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HOURS'   iO  TO  9  DAIIY.  ClOSED  SUNDAY 

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PORTIAND,  Ore.  -Nfe^R  i])h  4  fOWEU 


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''THE  MOTHER' 

bv  Albin   Poldsek 


Erected  in  front  of  the  Cremiitorutm  tn  the  Jubilee  year  of  1927 


'mo 

SEMI-CENTENNIAL 

JUBILEE 

OF  THE 

BOHEMIAN 

NATIONAL    CEMETERY 

ASSOCIATION 

IN    CHICAGO 
ILLINOIS 


A  FREE  ENGLISH  VERSION  OF  J.  J.  JELfNEK'S 
BOHEMIAN  HISTORICAL  SKETCH 

BY 

Dr.  J.  E.  S.  VOJAN 


Ai. 


CHICAGO,    ILL. 

THE  BOHEMIAN   NATIONAL  CEMETERY  ASSOCIATION 

1927 


The  History  of  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion, 1877 — 1927,  by  J.  J.  Jelinek  (in  Bohemian)  was  com- 
piled from  the  minutes  of  tlie  meetings  of  the  Association 
with  the  help  of  the  Historical  Sketch  by  F.  B.  Zdrtkbek. 
and  of  the  Editorial  Committee.  It  is  dedicated  to  the 
memory  of  all  those  dear  and  beloved  ones  who  dream 
their  last  sleep  at  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  and 
published  as  a  remembrance  for  all  sincere  Americans  of 
Bohemian    descent,    both    present    and    future    generationsi 


436     R.   MEJDRICH  &  CO. 


%-'i'<^*1.'\M^i 


"Under   the   wide   and   starry  sky- 
Dig  the  grave  and  let  me  lie. 
Glad   did   I   live   and   gladly   die, 

And  I  laid  me  down  with  a  will; 
This  be  the  verse  you  grave  for  me: 
"Here  he  lies  where  he  longed  to  be, 
Home  is  the  sailor,  home  from  sea. 

And  the  hunter  home  from  the  hill.' 


HIS  beautiful  little  poem  from  Robert 
Louis  Stevenson  is  the  most  sublime  ex- 
pression of  the  human  long^ing  for  eter- 
nal peace  when — in  Shakespeare's 
words  —  we  enter  the  undiscovered 
country,  from  whose  bourn  no  traveller 
returns. 

Our    duty    is    to    take    from    every 

grave    its    fear.      From    the    wondrous 

tree  of  Life  the  buds  and  blossoms  fall 

Vjj  along    with    the    ripened    fruit,    and    in 

V     the  common  bed  of  earth  patriarchs  and  babes  sleep 

^^     side  by  side.     Why  should  we  fear  that  which  will 

\K    come  to  all  that  exists?     Death  means  peace  and  rest 

for  the  departed.     But  to  those  who  survive  and  live 

separated  from  their  loved  ones,  it  means  grief.     The 

custom  introduced  in  this  country  by  the  communities 

^-  of  Moravian  Brothers,  who  formed  their  burial  places 

^  into  gardens,  has  changed  cemeteries  to  Gardens  of 

''i^  the   Dead.     The    Moravian   Brothers   were   Bohemian 

>^  emigrants   who   went  first  from    Moravia   to   Saxony, 

^'  in   1724,   and  then,   between    1741    and    1762,   settled 

in    Pennsylvania.      The    Bohemians    of    Chicago    trod 


3 


therefore  in  the  steps  of  their  fellow-countrymen 
when  they  made  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  of 
Chicago  a  beautiful   Garden  of  the  Dead. 

The  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  owes  its  exis- 
tence to  regrettable  circumstances  which  arose  in  the 
seventies  of  the  last  century.  Some  Catholic  priests 
so  far  forgot  the  charitable  teachings  of  the  founder 
of  their  religion  as  to  refuse  to  permit  burial  of  Bohe- 
main  freethinkers  in  the  ground  of  their  cemeteries. 
But  as  James  Thomson  said,  ''from  seeming  evil  still 
educing  good,"  the  Bohemian  freethinkers  who  in 
those  days,  just  as  today,  formed  about  75  per  cent 
of  the  Bohemian  population  of  Chicago,  joined  to- 
gether and  founded  their  own  cemetery  which  grew 
so  successfully  from  such  small  beginnings  that  the 
present  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  is  the  pride  not 
only  of  the  Bohemians  of  Chicago,  but  of  the  Bohe- 
mians of  the  whole  United  States. 

The  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  is  a  splendid 
monument  to  the  united  fraternal  action  of  Bohemian 
societies  of  this  great  city  and  is  a  proof  that  the 
greatest  things  may  be  built  from  modest  beginnings 
if  a  zealous  and  enthusiastic  love  fills  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  intrepid  men.  The  Bohemian  Freethinkers 
of  Chicago  leave  their  beautiful  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery  to  their  sons  and  all  their  posterity  as  a 
dear  and  precious  heritage  with  the  deep  conviction 
that  the  honor  for  the  dead  beloved  who  sleep  in  the 
bosom  of  this  sacred  Garden  of  the  Dead  will  always 
be  an  incentive  for  those  who  will  come  after  us  to 
zealously  guard  this  national  property  and  to  take 
care  of  it  with  the  same  love  as  their  fathers  and  fore- 
fathers did. 

Such  is  the  heartiest  wish  of  those  who  put  this 
book  into  the  hands  of  our  people,  to  the  greater 
honor  and  glory  of  the  Bohemian  name! 


-iIk» 


■  ^^  '■ 


ECENTLY  an  American  author  said  that 
the  Czechoslovaks  were  the  Yankees 
of  Central  Europe,  in  the  traditional 
sense  of  that  word.  From  about  500 
A.  D.  they  lived  in  their  beautiful  Bo- 
hemia, an  independent,  liberty-loving 
nation,  valiant  and  unconquerable.  In 
1620  Bohemia  lost  her  independence. 
The  nation  suffered  for  300  years  un- 
der the  Habsburg  yoke,  but  when  the 
World  Ware  came,  the  Bohemians 
(Czechs)  and  Slovaks  rose  up.  The  Czechoslovak 
legionnaires  fought  in  France,  Italy  and  Russia, 
and  on  October  28,  1918,  the  rebirth  of  Bohemian 
independence  put  the  Republic  of  Czechoslovakia  on 
the  world's  map.  Such  is  the  race  whose  blood  cir- 
culated in  the  veins  of  Bohemian  immigrants  who 
have  been  coming  steadily  to  the  United  States  ever 
since  1848.  They  hoped  that  this  Land  of  the  Free 
would  give  them  the  political  liberty  of  which  they 
were  deprived  when  their  country  was  a  part  of  the 
Austrian  monarchy,  as  well  as  the  economical  possi- 
bilities closed  to  them  in  the  old,  overpopulated  coun- 
tries of  Europe,  full  of  barriers  and  hatreds,  and  well 
were  their  hopes  realized.     Our  immigrants  who  came 


to  America  in  those  days  knew  that  they  would  have 
to  struggle  and  fight  for  existence,  and  therefore  only 
daring,  hard-headed  people  came  to  these  shores.  The 
present  economic  strength  of  the  Bohemians  of  Chi- 
cago shows  that  they  belonged  and  still  belong  to 
the  most  desirable  immigrants,  and  that  the  best  poli- 
cy for  the  United  States  is  to  receive  these  sturdy 
self-made  men  with  open  arms. 

The  first  groups  of  Bohemians  appeared  in  Chi- 
cago in  1852 — 1853.  These  pioneers  squatted  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  city,  on  land  that  is  now  a  part  of 
Lincoln  Park.  But  the  first  permanent  Bohemian 
settlement  took  root  about  1856  on  Canal  Street.  From 
that  time  on  the  Bohemians  became  a  significant  ele- 
ment. Already  in  1860  the  population  of  the  Bohe- 
mian settlement  had  mounted  to  10,000  people  and 
the  settlement  extended  on  Canal  Street  from  Ewing 
and  Polk  Streets  south  to  the  river  and  on  almost  all 
cross  streets  west  to  Halsted  Street,  and  especially  on 
De  Koven,  Bunker  and  West  12th  Street.  Here  many 
Bohemians  became  house  owners,  and  the  first  mani- 
festation of  a  rapidly  growing  social  life  was  the 
founding  of  the  first  Bohemian  society  *'Slovanska 
Lipa'^  (The  Slavic  Linden)  on  November  20,  1861. 
After  the  big  fire  the  Bohemians  moved  to  the  18th 
Street  district  where  the  second  and  very  prosperous 
Bohemian  settlement  became  known  under  the  name 
of  the  "Bohemian  Pilsen"  (in  the  old  country  Pilsen 
is  the  next  largest  city  after  the  capital  of  Prague  and 
enjoys  a  world  renown  on  account  of  its  famous  Pil- 
sen beer).  "The  Pilsen  Station,"  the  official  name  of 
the  post  office  in  this  section  of  the  city,  shows  how 
popular  was  the  name  of  the  Bohemian  settlement. 
On  October  8,  1875,  the  first  number  of  "Svornost" 
(Concord,)  the  first  Bohemian  daily  in  the  United 
States,  was  published  by  August  Geringer. 

The  last  U.  S.  census  (1920)  found  106,428  Bohe- 
mians in  Chicago  (43,676  foreign-born  and  62,752 
native),  but  the  correct  number  of  Bohemians  is  much 
greater,  because  thousands  of  them  are  living  in  Ber- 
wyn,  Cicero,  Oak  Park  and  other  suburban  districts. 
Whole  blocks  in  the  "Bohemian  California'*  (the  sec- 
tion around  W.  26th  St.,  west  from  California  Ave.) 


and  in  the  above  named  suburban  towns  were  built 
up  by  and  are  owned  by  Bohemians.  A  significant 
evidence  of  their  prosperity  can  be  found  in  the  fact 
that  the  Bohemian  Building  and  Loan  Associations 
already  in  1910  were  94  in  number  (of  a  total  of  197 
Chicago  associations)  and  their  assets  were  $8,785,- 
917.  Twenty  state  banks  and  three  national  banks 
were  established  by  Bohemians  of  Chicago. 

But  let  us  return  to  the  seventies  of  the  last 
century. 

In  1876  Father  Joseph  Molitor,  pastor  of  the 
Catholic  St.  Vaclav  Parish,  a  very  quarrelsome  man, 
got  into  trouble  with  the  fraternal  St.  Vaclav  Society 
and  later  went  so  far  that  he  refused  burial  at  the 
Bohemian-Polish  Catholic  Cemetery  to  all  whom  he 
disliked.  The  case  of  Mrs.  Marie  Silhanek  who  died 
on  July  25,  1876,  taxed  the  patience  of  the  Bohemian 
people  to  the  breaking  point.  Although  she  had  been 
Catholic  all  her  life,  the  erratic  priest  did  not  allow 
her  to  be  buried  at  the  Catholic  cemetery,  simply  be- 
cause she  did  not  confess  before  her  death.  From 
this  day  on  the  movement  for  freedom  from  the 
yoke  of  the  fanatic  priest  began  to  grow  rapidly. 

The  initiative  was  taken  by  Mr.  Frank  Zdrubek, 
then  editor  of  the  Bohemian  daily  ''Svornost'',  who 
held  public  lectures  under  the  auspices  of  the  Bohe- 
mian Freethinkers'  Society  at  the  hall  of  the  Sokol 
Gymnastic  Association.  Influenced  by  the  above  men- 
tioned case  of  Mrs.  Silhanek  he  announced  to  the 
public  that  in  his  January  lecture  he  would  discuss 
the  necessity  of  a  National  Bohemian  Cemetery. 


1877 

The  lecture  was  held  on  January  7,  1877,  and 
the  attendance  was  surprisingly  large.  This  fact  was 
proof  that  there  was  a  mighty  public  interest  in  this 
matter.  The  speaker  urged  the  audience  to  free  them- 
selves from  the  yoke  of  the  church  in  all  vital  events 
and  especially  in  the  matter  of  wedding  and  funeral 
ceremonies.  After  the  lecture  those  present  resolved 
to  call  a  meeting  of  the  presidents  of  all  national 
societies  as  soon  as  possible,  with  the  object  of  found- 


ing  a  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  where  any  Bohe- 
mian, regardless  of  creed,  could  be  buried  among  his 
fellow-countrymen  without  begging  a  priest  for  per- 
missiQn.  Everybody  talked  with  great  enthusiasm 
about  this  plan  but  the  difficulties  and  obstacles  to 
be  overcome  had  not  been  foreseen. 

At  the  next  lecture,  held  January  21  at  the  same 
place,  a  committee  of  three  was  elected,  Messrs.  Zdru- 
be'k,  John  Dusek  and  M.  Polacek,  who  were  instruct- 
ed to  ask  all  Bohemian  societies  of  Chicago  to  send 
one  delegate  to  the  public  meeting  fixed  for  February 
12.  At  this  meeting  the  important  question  was  to  be 
discussed  thoroughly  and  its  main  points  solved. 

The  meeting  of  February  12  was  called  to  order 
at  8  P.  M.  John  Dusek  was  elected  chairman  and 
F.  B.  Zdrubek  recording  secretary.  Eighty  delegates 
were  present,  and  all  national  societies  except  two 
were  represented.  The  names  of  delegates  and  so- 
cieties which  were  ready  to  put  their  hands  to  work 
were  as  follows: 

1.     John    Morava,    Bohemian-American    Sokol 
Society. 

2.  John  Rajsler,  Bohemian  Workingmen's  So- 
kol Society. 

3.  John  Beran,  Workingmen's  Benevolent  So- 
ciety Pokrok. 

4.  Mat.     Karasek,     Bohemian     Workingmen's 
Benevolent  Society. 

5.  Martin    Baumruker,    Bohemian    Tailors    So- 
ciety. 

6.  Procopius  Hudek,  Bohemian   Military  Com- 
pany. 

7.  Jacob   Padecky,    Dramatic   Society  Thalia. 

8.  J.  V.  Benes  and  Jos.  K.  Sisler,  Singing  So- 
ciety Lyra. 

9.  Vaclav  Zabransky,  Benevolent  Society  Jifi. 

10.  Joseph    Matousek,   Fire   Aid   Society. 

11.  Fr.  Chlupsa,  Bohemian  Workingmen's  So- 
ciety Rovnost. 

12.  Henry  Kohn,  Praha  Lodge  No.  13  C.  S.  P.  S. 

13.  Joseph  Svojse,  Rovnost  Lodge  No.  14  C.  S. 
P.  S. 

8 


14.  Vaclav  Donat,  Vernost  Lodge  No.  8  C.  S. 
P.  S. 

15.  Thomas  Cap,  Slavonian  Boh.  Nat.  Benevo- 
lent Society. 

16.  Joseph  Hodoval,  St.  John  Society. 

17.  Martin  Ruzicka,  St.  Procopius  Benevolent 
Society. 

18.  Vojt.  Freml,  St.  Vaclav  Benevolent  Society. 

19.  Thomas  Petrtyl,  Freethirikers'  Society. 

20.  Joseph  Kostner,  Sokol  Gymnastic  Associa- 
tion. 

The  most  important  decision  made  at  that  meet- 
ing was  that  all  societies  should  found  the  cemetery 
jointly  and  hold  it  in  common  as  national  property. 
All  agreed  that  the  idea  could  not  find  sufficient  sup- 
port among  the  societies,  if  only  one  of  them  would 
be  the  owner,  and  that  it  would  be  a  constant  cause 
of  quarrels. 

Henry  Kohn,  delegate  of  the  Praha  Lodge  C.  S. 
P.  S.,  reported  that  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of 
Illinois  had  secured  63  acres  which  were  very  suit- 
able for  a  cemetery  and  would  be  willing  to  offer 
them  to  the  societies  under  the  same  conditions  as  it 
had  acquired  them,  without  any  profit,  only  with  the 
reservation  that  in  case  of  persons  not  belonging  to 
any  society  the  burial  fees  would  be  paid  to  the 
Grand  Lodge.  The  price  per  acre  of  that  ground  was 
$550.00.  This  proposition  did  not  meet  the  approval 
of  the  delegates,  whereupon  Mr.  Kohn  reported  that 
the  Grand  Lodge  decided  that  in  case  of  unwilling- 
ness of  the  delegates  to  take  over  the  above  men- 
tioned piece  of  land  it  would  give  up  its  plan  and 
would  co-operate  with  the  other  societies.  This  re- 
port was  accepted  with  great  satisfaction  and  after  a 
longer  debate  the  following  resolutions  were  made : 

1)  A  committee  of  three  shall  make  investiga- 
tions around  the  city  and  look  for  a  suitable  loca- 
tion which  could  be  bought  for  the  Bohemian  Ceme- 
tery at  a  low  price. 

2)  The  members  of  this  committee,  Messrs.  Fr. 
Bedlan,  Mat.  Karasek  and  Stephen  Sramek,  shall  re- 
port to  the  next  meeting  called  in  two  weeks. 

9 


3)  All  delegates  shall  meet  Monday  night,  Feb- 
ruary 26,  at  the  same  place,  to  hear  the  report  and 
to  discuss  what  they  shall  recommend  to  their  so- 
cieties. 

On  February  26  the  meeting  was  attended  by  40 
delegates.  John  Beran  presented  himself  as  a  dele- 
gate of  the  Bohemian  Fraternal  Society  and  was  ac- 
cepted. The  committee  announced  that  they  took  a 
survey  of  three  places  together  with  the  contractor 
Mr.  J.  V.  Benes  in  his  carriage,  and  of  the  tracts  of 
land  reported  on  the  first,  110  acres  lying  west  of  the 
township  of  Jefferson,  10  miles  distant  from  the  cen- 
ter of  the  city,  offered  for  $13,000— about  $125  an 
acre — met  the  general  approval.  There  was  a  good 
road  to  that  place,  with  the  exception  of  half  a  mile 
which  had  to  be  bought  out  and  built.  At  the  meet- 
ing it  was  resolved  to  concentrate  all  discussions  on 
this  land,  because  the  other  two  tracts  were  found 
far  less  suitable.  Finally  a  committee  of  five  was  elect- 
ed, Messrs.  Jos.  Matousek,  Proc.  Hudek,  Vojt.  Freml, 
Jos.  Svojse  and  John  Beran,  to  draw  up  a  sketch  of 
the  statutes  of  the  Cemetery  Association.  The  chair- 
man and  the  secretary  were  requested  to  hold  their 
offices  till  the  next  meeting  when  new  officers  would 
be  elected. 

On  March  12,  1877,  the  following  eight  dele- 
gates met  to  organize  and  found  the  Bohemian  Na- 
tional Cemetery  Association: 

1.  Maurice  Polacek,  Sokol  Gymnastic  Associa- 
tion. 

2.  Fr.  Pracna,  Bohemian  Work.  Benevolent  So- 
ciety. 

3.  Jos.  Novak,  Rovnost  Lodge  No.  14  C.  S.  P.  S. 

4.  Jos.  Dostal,  Bohemian  National  Benevolent 
Society. 

5.  Jos.  Matousek,  Fire  Aid  Society. 

6.  Voj.  Freml,  St.  Procopius  Benevolent  Society. 

7.  Stephen  Sramek,  St.  Vaclav  Benevolent  So- 
ciety. 

8.  Proc.  Hudek,  Workingmen's  Benevolent  Poli- 
tical Society  Pokrok. 

10 


Several  other  societies  sent  letters,  stating  that 
the  delegates  could  not  attend  the  meeting,  but  that 
they  were  willing  to  co-operate. 

Those  at  the  meeting  then  agreed  to  organize 
the  Association,  Frank  Pracna  was  elected  President 
and  Proc.  Hudek  Recording  Secretary.  It  was  re- 
solved that  the  meetings  of  the  National  Cemetery 
Association  should  be  public,  that  everybody  could 
attend  them,  but  the  right  to  speak  at  meetings  and 
to  vote  was  reserved  to  the  delegates. 

The  delegates  reported  how  much  their  societies 
were  willing  to  loan  to  the  Association,  and  in  this 
way  the  amount  of  $1,325.00  was  subscribed  at  this 
first  meeting.  It  was  enacted  that  the  eight  dele- 
gates present  should  form  the  committee  of  the  Ceme- 
tery Association  and  with  the  aid  of  a  lawyer  should 
draw  up  the  statutes  of  the  Association  and  continue 
in  the  work  now  begun. 

As  usual  rumors  began  to  circulate  which  tended 
to  belittle  this  national  undertaking  and  to  deter  the 
progress.  These  obstacles  had  to  be  removed  again 
and  again  for  many  months,  but  finally  all  calumnies 
and  suspicions  were  reduced  to  silence.  The  commit- 
tee could  lay  stress  upon  the  fact  that  the  cemetery 
would  be  a  national  undertaking,  without  profit  to 
anybody,  only  for  the  honor  and  benefit  of  the  Bohe- 
mian population  of  Chicago.  Any  emolument  in  the 
future  would  belong  only  to  the  Bohemian  people, 
and  the  Association  would  be  able  to  make  dona- 
tions for  various  Bohemian  benevolent  and  education- 
al purposes.  It  almost  seems  that  the  committee  fore- 
saw all  those  magnanimous  donations  of  thousands 
and  thousands  of  dollars  which  later  were  actually 
given  by  the  Association  to  various  Bohemian  national 
and  educational  institutions. 

On  April  11  the  incorporation  of  the  Association 
was  sanctioned  by  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  in  the 
Charter  of  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion are  mentioned  as  trustees  for  the  first  year  Joseph 
Matousek,  Joseph  Novak  and  Stephen  Sramek.  From 
the  profits  of  the  Association  the  charter  specifies 
the  following  purposes  may  be  fostered:  a)  The  edu- 
cation  of  children  of  Bohemian   descent,   b)    The   or- 

11 


ganization  and  maintenance  of  a  Bohemian  library, 
c)  The  organization  and  maintenance  of  a  Home  for 
old  people  or  other  benevolent  institutions.  The  char- 
ter was  signed  by  George  H.  Harlow,  Secretary  of 
the  State,  at  Springfield,  111.,  on  April  11,  1877.  The 
certificate,  dated  April  7,  was  signed  by  Frank  Prac- 
na,  St.  Sramek,  Jos.  Dostal,  Jos.  Novak,  Maurice  Po- 
lacek,   Jos.   Matousek   and   Albert  Freml. 

The  above  named  Board  of  Trustees  was  elected 
for  a  term  of  six  months.  Mat.  Karasek  was  elected 
President,  Fr.  Fencl  Recording  Secretary,  Fr.  Pracna 
Financial  Secretary  and  Jos.   Dostal  Treasurer. 

The  number  of  delegates  increased  to  16.  New 
delegates  were  as  follows: 

Fr.  Fencl,  Bohemian  National  Benevolent  Society. 

Fr.  Pracna,  Bohemian  Work.  Benevolent  Society. 

Fr.  Bedlan,  St.  Vaclav  Society. 

John  Beran,  Work.  Benev.  Pol.  Society  Pokrok. 

Jos.   Sauer,   Fire   Aid   Society. 

Fr.  Skalicky,  Sokol  Gymnastic  Association. 

Vaclav  Kiehha,  Rovnost  Lodge  No.  14  C.  S.  P.  S. 

The  committee  now  visited  various  locations  in 
order  to  find  a  suitable  place  for  the  cemetery.  Be- 
sides the  above  mentioned  lands  various  West  Side 
locations  were  investigated,  especially  Silverman's 
grounds  near  Waldheim  Cemetery,  offered  for  $1,000 
an  acre,  IV2  rniles  from  city  limits,  with  a  toll  of  60 
cents  per  carriage,  and  Hickinson's  farm,  6  acres, 
priced  at  §950.00  an  acre,  but  both  were  too  low  to 
make  safe  burial  grounds.  It  seemed  doubtful  that 
the  committee  would  be  able  to  find  anything  satis- 
factory. 

Towards  the  end  of  April  Fr.  Fencl  was  in- 
structed to  look  for  something  on  the  North  Side. 
He  learned  from  Mr.  Hintz  that  Mr.  Snell  had  sev- 
eral pieces  of  land  for  sale  on  the  North  West  Side. 
Mr.  Snell  first  showed  him  his  grounds  behind  the 
Bohemian-Polish  Catholic  Cemetery.  The  price  was 
$100  an  acre.  Mr.  Fencl  did  not  like  them  on  ac- 
count of  the  remote  and  disadvantageous  location. 
They  went  then  to  SnelTs  lands  near  Crawford  Ave- 
nue, where  Fr.  Fencl  took  an  option  on  a  piece  of 
land,   about  30   acres,   for  $200.00   an   acre.      He   re- 

12 


ported  it  to  Mr.  Matousek,  who  with  another  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  called  upon  Mr.  Snell  who  now 
broke  his  promise  and  asked  $250.00  an  acre. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Committee  Mr.  Fencl  con- 
demned Mr.  Snell's  faithlessness  and  promised  to  find 
another  place  in  the  vicinity,  for  §200.00  an  acre  or 
cheaper.  With  the  help  of  Mr.  Hintz  such  a  place 
was  found.  It  measured  40  acres,  east  of  Crawford 
Avenue,  and  belonged  to  Martha  and  Frank  Clybourn. 
The  prices  was  $7,500.00,  under  the  condition  that 
simultaneously  an  added  10  acres  must  be  bought 
from  August  Ringel,  at  $250.00  and  acre.  It  was  a 
wooded  piece  of  land,  which  today  forms  the  eastern 
part  of  the  cemetery. 

A  total  of  50  acres  had  to  be  bought  for  $10,000 
under  the  condition  that  no  commission  would  be  paid 
to  anybody.  In  June  and  July  the  transactions  with 
the  lawyers  were  continued,  the  grounds  were  found 
quite  suitable,  but  the  township  of  Jefferson  was  not 
willing  to  permit  any  burials  within  its  limits.  Since 
they  had  no  cemetery  of  their  own  and  buried  their 
dead  in  Chicago  cemeteries,  they  opposed  vehement- 
ly any  such  actions  and  did  everjrthing  that  their 
lawyers  advised  to  defeat  the  project. 

The  land  was  bought  in  May,  and  the  lawyer  for 
the  Committee  suggested  that  one  or  two  dead  bodies 
be  buried  in  the  cemetery,  the  sign  "Bohemian  Na- 
tional Cemetery*'  put  up  on  the  fence,  and  the  legal 
steps  of  the  township  awaited.  It  was  not  easy  to 
persuade  anybody  to  consent  to  such  a  burial,  be- 
cause people  feared  that  the  township  would  compel 
them  to  remove  the  body  from  the  grave  to  another 
cemetery.  Finally  the  Committee  succeeded  in  find- 
ing willing  families  to  whom  it  guaranteed  compen- 
sation for  all  expenses  that  might  possibly  be  incurred. 
On  July  1,  1877,  the  first  body,  that  of  a  child  of 
Chas.  Brada,  was  buried  there,  the  fence  was  pro- 
vided with  the  cemetery  sign,  and  on  August  7  the 
second  burial  took  place,  Anna,  daughter  of  John 
Bican,  was  interred  there. 

The  township  of  Jefferson  was  waiting  for  its 
opportunity  and  brought  a  legal  suit  against  the  trus- 
tees.    Hastily  one  more  dead  body  was  buried  in  the 

13 


cemetery,  and  then  all  burials  were  stopped  until 
the  court  could  render  a  decision.  The  Cemetery 
Association  was  represented  by  attorneys  Charles 
Leake  and  William  Vocke.  The  case  created  a  sen- 
sation, because  there  was  no  precedent  and  the  deci- 
sion had  to  become  a  directive  rule  for  all  future 
cases  of  this  kind. 

On  October  16  Judge  Williams  passed  judge- 
ment which  permitted  burials  in  the  cemetery  by  the 
Association  and  gave  to  the  township  only  the  right 
of  police  inspection.  The  lawyers'  fees  were  $80.00 
and  the  Association  paid  them  gladly,  because  they 
were  well  deserved. 

By  the  deeds  dated  August  1,  1877,  and  signed 
by  Martha  and  Frank  T.  Clybourn,  and  by  August 
Ringel  and  Minnie  Ringel  resp.,  the  Association  be- 
came legal  owner  of  lots  23,  24,  25  and  28,  40  acres 
for  $7,500.00,  and  of  lot  26,  10  acres,  for  $2,500.00. 

The  property  bought  with  legal  rights  awarded 
in  this  way  consisted  of  50  acres,  situated  in  the 
County  of  Cook,  Township  of  Jefferson,  7  miles  from 
the  courthouse  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  on  Milwaukee 
Avenue,  Elston  Road  and  Clybourn  (today  Crawford) 
Avenue.  The  total  cost  was  $10,000.00.  Since  Frank 
Clybourn  was  a  minor,  the  Association  received  only 
a  contract  and  a  warranty  deed,  which  was  returned 
after  the  final  signing  of  the  deeds  on  April  24,  1878. 
The  location  of  the  cemetery  between  Bowmanville 
and  Jefferson  on  the  Chicago  River  was  excellent, 
the  grounds  were  high  and  covered  with  trees,  the 
road  was  good  and  the  toll  only  10  cents  a  carriage. 
The  neighbors  themselves  agreed  to  fill  up  and  re- 
pair the  road  from  the  bridge  to  the  cemetery. 

The  first  installment  of  $2,000.00  was  paid 
through  the  sale  of  the  lowest  10  acres  to  Mr.  Kara- 
sek,  who  offered  that  amount,  which  was  unanimous- 
ly accepted  by  the  delegates.  It  was  not  possible  to 
use  that  lowest  part  for  burying,  and  the  cemetery 
needed  only  the  higher  wooded  30  acres.  The  re- 
maining 10  acres  could  be  improved  and  sold  later. 
Mr.  Karasek  paid  $1,000.00  to  the  Association  and 
with  amounts  loaned  by  the  societies  (Bohemian  Na- 
tional   Benevolent   Society,    $300;    Workingmen's    So- 

14 


ciety,  $275;  St.  Vaclav  Society,  $295;  Workingmen's 
Society  Pokrok,  $300;  Fire  Aid  Society,  $50;  Lodge 
Rovnost,  $50,  and  Sokol  Gymnastic  Association,  $25, 
totalling  $1,295)  there  was  sufficient  money  on  hand 
to  pay  the  first  installment  as  well  as  the  first  nec- 
essary improvements.  The  St.  Procopius  Society  did 
not  report  any  loan  and  ceased  to  send  its  delegate 
to  the  meetings. 

The  Association  issued  a  public  notice  to  the 
societies  and  individuals,  asking  for  loans.  The  credi- 
tors had  to  accept  judgment  notes  for  their  loans 
at  the  rate  of  6%  interest.  As  soon  as  the  price  for 
the  cemetery  would  be  paid  up,  the  loans  were  to 
be  repaid. 

The  cemetery  affairs  became  now  a  constant  sub- 
ject of  discussion  at  meetings  of  societies  and  private 
debates.  The  Association  had  many  enemies,  and 
the  priests  whose  income  was  lessened  by  nonsecta- 
rian  funerals  were  not  among  least  of  these.  While 
it  was  impossible  to  deny  the  usefulness  of  the  under- 
taking, the  probability  of  success  somewhat  was 
doubtful,  and  with  a  great  gusto  all  past  co-operative 
failures,  especially  the  brick-yard,  the  banks,  etc., 
were  cited  in  order  to  sap  the  public  confidence. 

At  the  meeting  of  August  1,  1877,  the  following 
officers  were  elected  in  accordance  with  the  new 
statutes:  M.  Karasek,  President;  F.  Fencl,  Record- 
ing Secretary;  F.  Pracna,  Financial  Secretary;  J.  Do- 
stal,  Treasurer.  Board  of  Trustees:  J.  Matousek,  J. 
Novak  and  Stephen  Sramek.  The  loans  by  societies 
amounted   to   $1,170.00. 

On  August  9,  the  ninth  society  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Association,  the  Bohemian  Tailors'  Society, 
which  sent  to  the  meeting  Vaclav  Stehlik  and  Jacob 
Vavfinek  as  delegates  and  announced  a  loan  of 
$100.00.  It  was  resolved  to  pay  the  first  install- 
ment of  $2,000.00  on  August  10  and  the  further  in- 
stallments as  follows:  $500  after  6  months,  $800  after 
9  months,  $500  after  12  months  and  $500  after  18 
months.  On  the  unpaid  balance  the  Association  had 
to  pay  10%  interest.  M.  Karasek  who  had  paid  the 
first  $1,000  promised  to  pay  $500  after  9  and  $500 
after  18  months  with  8%  interest.     A  member  of  the 

15 


Board  of  Trustees,  J.  Novak,  resigned.  A  commit- 
tee of  five  wsiS  appointed  to  ma'ke  recommendations, 
concerning  the  erection  of  a  fence  and  the  employ- 
ment of  a  grave-digger. 

At  the  meeting  of  August  16  the  erection  of  the 
fence  was  given  to  Mr.  Sramek  for  23c  a  foot,  totalling 
$260.72,  and  Mr.  Jos.  Lahvice  v^as  appointed  grave- 
digger  v^ith  a  monthly  salary  of  $25.00,  from  among 
five  applicants. 

On  August  24,  the  Palacky  Lodge  No.  630  I.  O. 
O.  F.  became  member  of  the  Association,  v^ith  V.  Ka- 
sparek  and  Fr.  Novak  as  delegates. 

On  August  29,  John  Bernhardt  and  Jos.  Trojan 
were  accepted  as  delegates  of  Bohemian  Brethren 
Society  and  brought  a  loan  of  $100.00. 

The  celebration  of  the  official  opening  of  the 
Bohemian  National  Cemetery  v^as  held  on  Sunday, 
September  2,  and  became  a  real  national  manifesta- 
tion. 4,000  members  of  various  societies  took  part 
in  a  splendid  procession  which  marched  from  De 
Koven,  Taylor  and  Canal  Streets  over  the  city  to  the 
Northwestern  depot,  where  the  train  of  25  cars  left 
at  9  A.  M.  At  the  Irving  Park  Station  the  proces- 
sion again  was  formed  and  marched  to  the  cemetery. 
The  celebration  began  at  1  P.  M.  The  Singing  So- 
ciety Lyra  opened  it  with  a  festival  chorus.  The 
speaker  of  the  day,  Fr.  B.  Zdrubek,  described  the 
hazardous  beginnings  of  the  cemetery  and  turned  it 
over  officially  to  the  Bohemian  public.  Capt.  Hudek 
also  introduced  the  German  General  Lieb,  who  con- 
gratulated the  Bohemians  of  Chicago  and  expressed 
his  pleasure  with  the  noteworthy  celebration.  The 
celebration  closed  at  6:30,  but  dancing  was  continued 
until  late  at  the  hall  of  the  Sokol  Gymnastic  Associa- 
tion. Next  morning  the  celebration  was  very  favor- 
ably commented  upon  in  the  English  dailies.  The 
pet  proceeds  were   $600.00. 

On  September  7  Mr.  Polacek  as  delegate  of  Sokol 
Gymnastic  Association  was  succeeded  by  Fr.  Mencl. 

On  September  21  Fr.  Pracna  of  the  Working- 
men's  Society  was  succeeded  by  Henry  Hajek  and 
Mr.  Hudek  by  Fr.  Ring. 

16 


The  Association  began  to  work  with  great  en- 
thusiasm on  further  improvements.  The  rules  for 
burials  were  laid  down,  a  brick  building  for  the 
grave-digger  was  erected  for  $400,  and  the  prices  for 
graves  were  fixed ;  an  adult  grave  $5.00 ;  children 
from  6  to  12  years,  $3.50 ;  children  from  2  to  6  years, 
$2.50,  and  infants,  $1.50. 

The  first  public  funeral  was  held  on  November 
1,  and  to  the  deceased,  Mrs.  Anna  Hubacek,  an  espe- 
cially beautiful  place  was  reserved.  Temporarily  10 
acres  were  designated  for  burials.  Contractor  John 
Benes  drew  up  the  plans  for  the  division  of  the  ceme- 
tery free  of  charge. 

From  November  21  only  delegates  were  admit- 
ted to  the  meetings,  because  the  public  meetings  did 
not  prove  to  meet  the  proper  purpose  and  often  were 
only  disturbed  by  non-delegates. 

On  October  31.  Henry  Hajek  was  elected  Finan- 
cial Secretary.  Delegates  Vac.  Klenha  and  Vavfinek 
who  resigned  were  succeeded  by  Fr.  Cilik  and  Fr. 
Novy. 

On  December  5  new  delegates  of  the  Palacky 
Lodge  No.  630  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Vac.  Kaspar  and  J.  V. 
Benes  brought  a  loan  of  $25.00.  A  temporary  wooden 
gate  was  erected,  a  gift  of  John  Benes. 

The  troubles  with  the  township  of  Jefferson  did 
not  cease  until  after  two  years.  Misusing  their  right 
of  police  supervision,  the  citizens  of  Jefferson  tried 
to  hinder  any  new  interment.  They  used  to  send 
their  constable  to  the  cemetery,  and  this  officer 
always  arrested  the  grave-digger  Lahvice  and  brought 
him  to  the  township  jail.  The  committee  finally 
visited  the  township  board  with  Mr.  V.  Kaspar  who 
deposited  a  big  bond  for  the  grave-digger  in  order 
to  stop  the  molestations,  but  only  after  two  years 
when  the  appeal  of  the  township  was  rejected  as 
groundless,  did  the  Association  get  rid  of  all  troubles 
and  enjoy  a  permanent  peace. 


17 


1878 

The  financial  report  for  the  period  from  August 
1,  1877,  to  the  end  of  1877  showed  receipts  $4,685.36, 
disbursements  $3,228.50,  net  balance  $1,456.56.  There 
were  26  graves  in  the  cemetery,  of  these  3  were  given 
free  of  charge  and  for  the  rest  $56.00  was  paid.  Do- 
nations collected  by  Messrs.  Stehlik,  Fencl,  Karasek, 
Beran,  Trojan,  Sauer,  Ring,  Novak,  Sramek,  Bedlan, 
Hajek  and  Skalicky  amounted  to  $664.35. 

The  direct  receipts  from  the  cemetery  still  be- 
ing so  low  that  they  did  not  even  cover  the  salary 
of  the  grave-digger,  further  loans  from  societies  were 
necessary.  Many  necessary  expenses  developed.  The 
most  urgent  matters  were  to  divide  the  cemetery  into 
lots,  the  sale  of  which  would  bring  the  necessary  in- 
come, to  make  a  regular  fence,  to  survey  the  land, 
to  fell  the  obstructing  trees,  to  improve  the  roads, 
etc.,  and  on  February  1  the  second  installment  was 
due.  Fortunately  the  societies,  asked  for  loans,  did 
not  fail  in  their  obligations  and  at  the  end  of  the  first 
semester  the  following  loans  were  made  by  societies 
and  individuals: 

Work.  Benev.  Pol.  Society  Pokrok $  422.86 

Boh.  Nat.  Benev.  Society 528.88 

Mor.  Slav.  Benev.  Society 200.00 

Palacky  Lodge  No.  630  I.  O.  O.  F 127.77 

Singing  Society  Lyra 100.00 

Bohem.    Brethren    Society 158.37 

Vernost  Lodge  No.  8  C.  S.  P.  S 150.00 

St.   Vaclav  Society 422.85 

Jungmann  Lodge  No.  20  C.  S.  P.  S 50.00 

Boh.   Tailors'  Society 417.45 

Sokol    Gymnastic    Association 26.69 

Fire  Aid  Society 130.00 

Rovnost  Lodge  No.  14  C.  S.  P.  S 105.65 

Work.   Benev.    Society 449.25 

Jif  i  Podebradsky  Lodge  No.  24  C.  S.  P.  S. .  .  50.00 

Wor'kingmen's  Society    75.00 

Praha  Lodge  No.  13  C.  S.  P.  S 50.00 

Fr.    Pokorny     200.00 

Mat.   Valis    150.00 

Jos.  Houda 150.00 

18 


Vac.  Placek 310.00 

Vac.    Matas    50.00 

Jos.  Chudy 200.00 

Mart.    Volf 516.00 

Mat.    Blazek    200.00 

Jos.   Engelthaler    150.00 


$5,390.77 


At  the  end  of  this  year  the  loans  increased  to 
$5,400.00  and  the  donations  to  $700.00.  When  in 
the  second  part  of  the  year  the  sale  of  lots  began, 
the  financial  situation  improved  considerably.  Mr.  J. 
Benes  was  intrusted  with  tracing  the  plans  of  the 
cemetery,  which  was  a  preliminary  requirement  for 
the  division  into  lots.  On  January  17  the  second  in- 
stallment was  paid,  with  interest  amounting  altogeth- 
er to   $1,781.85. 

On  February  20  a  committee  of  five  was  elected 
to  draw  up  the  statutes  of  the  Association,  formulate 
cemetery  rules,  prescribe  the  duties  of  the  grave-dig- 
ger and  enact  rules  of  order  for  the  meetings.  The 
members  of  the  committee  were  Fr.  Mencl,  Fr.  Ring, 
John  Reran,  St.  Sramek  and  Fr.  Cilik.  The  statutes 
of  the  Association  and  the  cemetery  rules  as  well  as 
the  duties  of  the  grave-digger  were  approved  at  the 
meeting  of  March  20.  According  to  these  new 
statutes  any  national  society  may  become  a  member 
of  the  Cemetery  Association  after  furnishing  a  five 
year  loan  of  $50.00  and  is  entitled  to  two  delegates. 
It  was  also  enacted  that  every  charter  member  of  the 
Association  shall  be  entitled  after  the  expiration  of 
his  term  to  attend  meetings,  make  motions  and  vote 
at  the  semiannual  meetings  as  well  as  to  audit  the 
books  and  bills.  Further  it  was  resolved  to  register 
the  names  of  all  delegates  in  a  special  memorial  book 
as  a  permanent  remembrance. 

On  March  13  it  was  resolved  to  begin  the  sale 
of  lots,  and  the  prices  were  fixed  at  from  $10.00  to 
$30.00.  This  price  could  be  reduced  as  much  as 
one  half  in  cases  of  poor  families  or  widows.  In  the 
year  of  1878  such  a  reduction  was  granted  in  three 
cases. 

19 


R.  Spikings,  an  old  settler  of  that  vicinity,  was 
appointed  road-maker.  He  promised  that  he  would 
guarantee  the  work  for  a  whole  year.  Felling  of  the 
trees  was  not  connected  with  any  special  expense, 
as  the  trees  were  given  to  the  laborers  in  compensa- 
tion for  their  work.  The  main  road  was  to  cost  2y2C 
a  square  foot. 

The  lawyer  William  Vocke  informed  the  Asso- 
ciation that  his  bill  for  the  cemetery  law-suit  would 
be  $500.00,  but  a  specially  appointed  committee  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  it  down  to   $250.00. 

In  April  a  new  fence,  six  feet  high,  was  erected 
around  the  cemetery,  Rovnost  Lodge  sent  Chas.  No- 
vak and  Fr.  Cilik  as  delegates  and  Jos.  Matousek  was 
reappointed  by  the  Fire  Aid  Society. 

When  surveying  the  cemetery  V.  J.  Benes  left 
three  vacant  spaces  on  the  main  roads  for  the  future 
decoration  of  the  cemetery  by  public  monuments 
which,  of  course,  were  long  delayed  on  account  of 
the  modest  means  of  the  Association.  One  of  these 
spaces  is  today  taken  up  by  flower  displays,  the  sec- 
ond is  occupied  by  KlaceFs  monument  and  the  third 
by  the  Civil  War  Soldiers'  Monument. 

On  May  1  the  first  annual  meeting  was  held. 
Jos.  Matousek  was  elected  President;  John  Benes, 
Vice-President;  Fr.  Fencl,  Recording  Secretary;  Henry 
Hajek,  Financial  Secretary;  Jos.  Dostal,  Treasurer; 
Ant.  Havlfk,  Agent;  J.  V.  Benes,  Cemetery  Superin- 
tendent; Fr.  Bedlan,  Vac.  Stehllk  and  Vac.  Sejk, 
Members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  J.  Benes,  Jos. 
Slach  and  Fr.  Ring  as  Auditing  Committee  reported 
favorably  at  the  next  meeting.  Weekly  meetings 
were  changed  to  fortnightly  meetings.  Receipts  from 
January  9  to  May  1,  1878,  were  $4,065.21;  disburse- 
ments $3,500.52;  treasurer's  balance,  $564.69.  The 
receipts  for  49  new  graves  were  $104.00;  8  lots  were 
sold  for  $90.00.  The  receipts  of  the  first  year  there- 
fore were  $8,750.57,  disbursements  $6,729.02.  Dur- 
ing the  first  years  65  graves  and  8  lots  were  sold. 

The  worst  difficulties  of  the  first  years  were 
overcome.  Now  the  most  urgent  needs  were  a  large 
vault,  solid  and  dry,  for  keeping  of  coffins  when  frost 
or  other  causes  did  not  allow  the  digging  of  graves, 

20 


and  a  well  to  supply  water  for  the  watering  of  graves, 
which  were  now  pretily  arranged  and  planted  with 
flowers.  The  road-maker  Spikings  also  insisted  on 
making  a  ditch  for  draining  of  roads  after  rains. 

For  the  vault  the  plans  and  estimates  of  J.  V. 
Benes  were  accepted  and  the  first  Sunday  in  August, 
the  day  of  the  second  Annual  Celebration,  was  chosen 
for  the  laying  of  foundations  for  the  vault.  For  the 
building  of  the  vault  the  lowest  bid  of  A.  Holpuch 
was  accepted,  but  later  the  construction  was  given  to 
Mr.  Benes  when  Mr.  Holpuch  could  not  make  several 
changes  asked  by  the  Committee  and  Mr.  Benes  of- 
fered to  the  Association  his  supervision  if  it  would 
buy  all  materials  and  pay  for  all  work  the  prices  he 
would  have  to  pay  himself.  Mr.  Benes  did  not  charge 
anything  for  the  supervision  and  even  donated  to  the 
cemetery  the  price  reductions  which  he  received  on 
the  purchase  of  material. 

New  members  admitted  on  July  17  were:  Vernost 
Lodge  No.  8  C.  S.  P.  S.  with  Fr.  Vytlacil  and  Ign. 
Novak  as  delegates;  Lodge  Jiff  Podebradsky  No.  24 
C.  S.  P.  S.,  with  Jos.  Vistein  and  Vac.  Paara  as  dele- 
gates; Palacky  Lodge  No.  63  L  O.  O.  F.,  with  Ant. 
Kanak  as  delegate. 

The  Foundation-Stone  Celebration  was  held  on 
July  21  at  the  cemetery.  It  was  again  a  big  national 
affair,  over  30  societies  marched  in  the  procession, 
with  Capt.  Hudek  as  Marshall.  Joseph  Matousek, 
President  of  the  Association,  was  introduced  by  Vac. 
Stehlik  and  delivered  the  introductory  speech,  then 
the  Singing  Society  Lyra  sang,  Fr.  B.  Zdrubek,  the 
speaker  of  the  day,  delivered  his  speech,  and  finally 
the  memorial  documents  of  individual  societies  were 
put  in  a  box  which  was  sealed  into  the  foundation 
stone.  The  celebration  was  continued  in  the  neigh- 
boring garden  of  Mr.  Karase'k  where  the  participants 
remained  till  night.  The  net  proceeds  were  only 
$571.12  on  account  of  an  insufficient  supply  of  bev- 
erages. 

On  August  21  new  delegates  succeeded  their 
predecessors,  M.  Hanzlik  from  Fire  Aid  Society  and 
V.  Slapak  from  Vernost  Lodge. 

21 


St.  Vaclav  Society  having  accused  Mr.  Bedlan  of 
certain  irregularities,  the  Association  which  found  all 
accusations  to  be  groundless  called  a  public  meeting 
on  September  22  at  the  Sokol  hall  where  a  detailed 
financial  report  was  presented  to  the  public  and  the 
delegates  of  all  12  societies  forming  the  Association 
cleared  all   doubts. 

In  September  and  October  new  delegates  were 
appointed  by  the  Work.  Benev.  Society  (John  Nikl),. 
Jungmann  Lodge  No.  20  C.  S.  P.  S.  (Alois  Broz  and 
Vine.  Dlouhy)  and  Praha  Lodge  No.  13  C.  S.  P.  S. 
(Jos.  Fiser  and  Aug.  Loula). 

On  November  6  Jos.  Matousek,  who  was  appoint- 
ed with  Ant.  Kafiak  and  Jos.  Slach  to  visit  all  lodges 
and  societies,  to  reassure  them  that  their  loans  were 
not  in  any  danger  and  to  ask  them  for  further  aid,  re- 
ported that  he  was  heard  everywhere  with  the  utmost 
consideration. 

A  final  report,  placing  cost  of  the  vault  at 
$828.12,   was  approved. 

From  May  1  to  December  21,  1878,  receipts  were 
$3,184.44,  disbursements  $2,983.93,  balance  $200.51. 
112  graves  were  dug  for  which  $200.50  was  paid. 
60  lots  were  sold  for  which  $626.00  was  paid  in 
cash,  with  some  balance  still  due.  To  the  end  of  the 
year  187  dead  were  buried  in  the  cemetery. 


1879 

The  Association  began  to  discuss  the  question 
of  paying  off  the  first  mortgage  by  means  of  new 
loans  whereby  the  debt  would  be  transferred  into 
Bohemian  hands.  An  appeal  to  the  societies  was 
published  in  Bohemian  newspapers  to  this  effect. 

On  February  26  President  Matousek  announced 
that  the  lawsuit  of  the  township  of  Jefferson  vs.  the 
Bohemian  National  Cemetery  Association  had  result- 
ed in  the  complete  victory  of  the  Association.  The 
decision  Ol  the  Appelate  Court,  signed  on  March  2^ 
1880,  by  Judges  Joseph  M.  Bayley,  Issac  G.  Wilson 
and  W.  K.  McAllister,  dismissed  the  plaintiff's  com- 
plaint. 

22 


On  March  12  new  delegates  were  announced, 
John  Vavruska  from  Praha  Lodge  No.  13  C.  S.  P.  S. 
and  Vac.  Nekola  from  St.  Vaclav  Society. 

On  March  17,  at  a  special  meeting,  held  for  the 
purpose  of  receiving  new  loans,  Mr.  V.  Silhanek  of- 
fered a  loan  of  $2,000  for  18  months  at  7%.  In  addi- 
tion Vac.  Matas  loaned  $300,  Al.  Broz,  $175;  Work. 
Benev.  Society  Pokrok,  $100;  Fire  Aid  Society,  $100; 
Bohem.  Brethren,  $70;  M.  Wolf,  $300;  Boh.  Nat.  So- 
ciety, $100;  Vernost  Lodge,  $200;  Fr.  Pelikan,  $200; 
Jacob  Jordan,  $150;  Mrs.  Anna  Firman,  $100;  A.  Po- 
pelka,  $50;  Jos.  Trojan,  $300;  Moravian  Benev.  So- 
ciety, $50;  V.  Topinka,  $500;  Jos.  Houda,  $200; 
Boh.  Work.  Society,  $200;  Palacky  Lodge,  $100,  and 
Mr.  Engelthaler,  $100.  With  these  amounts  the  first 
mortgage  of  $4,500  could  be  paid  off  and  transferred 
upon  25  acres  for  the  loan  of  $2,000,  made  by  V. 
Silhanek.  It  was  also  resolved  to  sell  those  10  acres 
not  connected  with  the  cemetery. 

The  troubles  with  the  township  of  Jefferson  were 
revived  by  a  new  law-suit  as  the  township  was  not 
satisfied  with  the  court's  decision. 

A  new  gate  being  needed  badly,  the  Ladies' 
Societies  were  requested  to  make  a  collection  for  this 
purpose. 

In  April  the  following  new  delegates  were  ad- 
mitted: V.  Tejcek,  Rovnost  Lodge;  Ant.  Prusa,  Jifi 
Podebradsky  Lodge;  John  Pajml,  Work.  Society  Po- 
krok; Tom.  Kosatka,  Boh.  Tailors'  Society;  Fr.  Bed- 
Ian,  St.  Vaclav  Society;  Fr.  Pretl,  Praha  Lodge;  John 
Nikl  and  Fr.  Pecha,  Work.  Benev.  Society;  Vac. 
Topinka,  Palacky  Lodge;  Jos.  Matousek  and  Proc. 
Fiser,  Fire  Aid  Society,  and  Fr.  Pelikan,  Nat.  Benev. 
Society. 

On  May  7,  1879,  the  second  annual  meeting  w^as 
held.  Jos.  Matousek  was  re-elected  President;  Vac. 
Matas,  Vice-President;  Fr.  Pech,  Recording  Secre- 
tary; M.  Wolf,  Vac.  Tejcek  and  Fr.  Mencl,  Board  of 
Trustees.  J.  V.  Benes  was  requested  to  retain  his 
office  of  Cemetery  Superintendent.  From  January 
1  to  May  7  receipts  were  $6,344.01 ;  disbursements, 
$6,185.42;  cash  balance,  $158.59. 

The  question  of  correct  bookkeeping  had  for  a 

23 


long  time  been  very  troublesome.  The  differences 
were  very  small,  but  sufficient  enough  to  arouse  new 
complaints  repeatedly.  Finally  it  was  necessary  to- 
depose  the  Financial  Secretary,  Henry  Hajek,  and  a 
new  one  was  elected  in  the  person  of  Fr.  VytlaciL 
The  new  officer  found  that  the  differences  caused 
by  Hajek  and  by  Bedlan  at  whose  home  the  office 
of  the  Financial  Secretary  was  located  and  who 
sometimes  accepted  money,  made  together  about 
$19.00.  It  was  truly  a  small  amount,  but  in  conse- 
quence of  Mr.  Bedlan's  obstinacy  the  meetings  were 
bothered  by  these  disorders  till  February  25,  1880. 
In  the  meantime  the  Sokol  Gymnastic  Association  sent 
a  new  delegate,  Vac.  Rezanka,  instead  of  Mr.  Hajek 
and  St.  Vaclav  Society  was  requested  also  to  send 
another  delegate  instead  of  Mr.  Bedlan  to  whose  in- 
accuracy the  final  difference  of  $15  was  ascribed. 
The  Association  never  received  it,  because  it  was  too 
small  an  amount  to  bring  suit  for. 

For  the  new  gate  the  following  amounts  were 
donated:  Vlasta  No.  1,  $35;  Vlasta  No.  2,  $48.60, 
collected  by  the  members  among  the  public,  and  Pre- 
myslovna  Lodge  No.  5  J.  C.  D.,  $10.00. 

On  May  21  the  President  announced  that  Mr. 
Karasek  paid  the  last  installment  of  $500.00  with 
interest  for  the  10  acres,  sold  to  him.  He  also  signed 
a  document  which  stated  that  the  rear  road  to  the 
cemetery  belonged  to  the  Association  which  had  in- 
demnified him  for  that  part  of  his  property  which 
was  necessary  for  the  road. 

On  June  4  Fr.  Mencl  resigned  from  the  Board 
of  Trustees  and  Fr.  Pretl  was  elected  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy. On  July  16  the  delegate  of  Praha  Lodge,. 
Vavruska,  was  replaced  by  John  Kotek. 

The  annual  celebrations  at  the  cemetery  began 
to  be  very  popular  among  the  Bohemians  of  Chica- 
go and  a  very  important  source  of  revenue  for  the 
Association.  The  third  celebration,  connected  again 
as  usual  with  a  picnic  in  the  neighboring  garden  of 
Mr.  Karasek,  was  held  on  August  10. 

On  August  20  it  was  resolved  to  begin  with  re- 
deeming the  loans  of  individuals;  the  loans  of  socie- 
ties  had    to    be    postponed    for    a    later    time.      That 

24 


meant  that  the  bad  days  of  financial  troubles  were 
^one. 

In  August  and  September  new  delegates  were 
admitted:  Phil.  Novak,  St.  Vaclav  Society;  Ant. 
Fiala,  Mor.  Slav.  Benev.  Society;  John  Baumrucker 
and   Ign.    Kouba,   Jifi   Podebradsky   Lodge. 

The  action  brought  against  the  Association  by 
the  township  of  Jefferson  ended  in  March  1880  with 
victory  for  the  Association,  but  it  was  necessary  to 
pay  $200.00  to  attorneys  Vocke  and  Leak  and  later 
give  them  $50.00  more,  because  the  township  again 
tried  to  save  its  cause  by  appeal. 

Poor  fellow-countrymen  always  had  been  buried 
free  of  charge,  but  in  order  to  avoid  any  misuse  of 
this  favor  it  was  resolved  that  in  all  such  cases  a 
ticket  had  to  be  secured  from  the  Board  of  Trustees 
and  shown  to  the  grave-digger. 

On  September  24  it  was  reported  that  through 
the  mediation  of  Mr.  Ad.  B.  Chladek  the  tax  from 
the  cemetery  property  was  remitted  and  in  the  future 
the  cemetery  would  be  exempt  from  state  taxes.  It 
was  resolved  to  express  public  thanks  to  Mr.  Chla- 
dek for  this  great  service. 

On  November  5  Osveta  Lodge  No.  27  C.  S.  P.  S. 
iDecame  a  member  with  a  five  year  loan  of  $50.00;  its 
delegates  were  Chas.  Drabek  and  Ign.  Kuta.  On 
December  17  Lodge  Pravda  No.  37  C.  S.  P.  S.  follow- 
ed with  the  same  loan  and  appointed  Jos.  Base  and 
Mat.  Matousek  as  delegates.  Other  newly  admitted 
delegates  were  Vac.  Chmatal  (Boh.  Nat.  Society) 
and  John  Vondra  and  Jac.  Cerny  (Jifi  Podebradsky 
Lodge).  At  the  last  December  meeting  the  death  of 
John  Nikl,  delegate  of  Work.  Benev.  Society  and 
former  Recording  Secretary  of  the  Association,  was 
reported.  A  resolution  of  sympathy  was  sent  to  the 
family.     Phil.  Novak  became  his  successor. 


1880 

In  January  a  new  delegate  of  Cesko-Narodni 
Lodge  No.  58  C.  S.  P.  S.  (formerly  Boh.  Nat.  Benev. 
Society)  Proc.  Hudek  was  announced.  On  January 
31  a  ball  was  given  by  the  Association  at  the  hall  of 

25 


tlu'  Boh.  Amer.  Sokol  offered  free  of  charge  for  this, 
purpose,  because  the  net  proceeds  were  destined  for 
the  new  cemetery  gate.  They  amounted  to  $112.00. 
Another  new  delegate  admitted  in  this  month  was 
John  Rajzler    (Boh.   Work.   Benev.   Society). 

In  February  St.  Vaclav  Society  replaced  the  re- 
voked Fr.  Bedlan  by  John  Bambula  as  its  delegate. 
On  February  25  Kip  Lodge  No.  41  C.  S.  P.  S.  became 
a  member  with  the  usual  loan,  its  delegates  were  Vac. 
Mlynafik  and  Mat.  Kolaf. 

On  March  24  Bohemian  American  Sokol  became 
a  member,  with  John  Churafi  and  Tom.  Bilek  as 
delegates.  Other  new  delegates  were  Florian  Otra- 
dovsky  (Vernost  Lodge)  and  Alois  Melkus  (Mor. 
Slav.   Benev.   Society). 

On  April  7  Obcansky  fi-ad  No.  2  became  a  mem- 
ber, with  Fr.  Kvapil  and  Jos.  Jankovsky  as  delegates. 
Other  new  delegates  v/ere:  Fr.  Fiser  (Rovnost 
Lodge)  and  Vac.  Husak  (Cesko-Narodni  Lodge).  On 
April  21  Otakar  Lodge  No.  78,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
became  a  member,  with  Fr.  Rothbauer  and  Vojt.  Sil- 
hanek  as  delegates;  John  Sindelaf,  delegate  of  Hip 
Lodge,  and  John  Tichy,  delegate  of  Osveta  Lodge^ 
were  also  admitted. 

On  May  5  the  third  annual  meeting  was  held. 
Jos.  Matousek  was  elected  President;  Vac.  Matas, 
Vice-President;  Fr.  Pech,  Recording  Secretary;  To- 
mas  Kosatka,  Financial  Secretary;  Vojta  Silhanek, 
Treasurer;  Fr.  Rothbauer,  Fr.  Kvapil  and  John  Kotek, 
Board  of  Trustees;  Fr.  Ring,  Jos.  Rothbauer  and 
Flor.  Otradovsky,  Auditing  Committee;  Simon  Han- 
zlik.  Agent;  J.  V.  Benes,  Cemetery  Superintendent. 
Receipts  during  the  past  half-year  were  $1,770.59; 
disbursements  $1,326.97;   cash  balance   $443.62. 

New  delegates  were  announced:  Jos.  Trojan  and 
John  Bernhart  from  Bohemian  Brethren;  Jos.  Roth- 
bauer from  Palacky  Lodge;  Simon  Hanzlik  from 
Pravda  Lodge;  John  Kolaf  from  St.  Vaclav  Society; 
Jos.  Bubrdle  from  Cesko-Delnicky  Lodge  No.  16  C.  S. 
P.  S.    (formerly  Boh.  Work.  Benev.  Society). 

On  May  19  Obcansky  Rad  No.  9  became  a  mem- 
ber and  Mr.  Pech,  having  resigned,  Flor.  Otradov- 
sky was  elected  Recording  Secretary.      On   June    16 

26 


Mr.  F.  Rothbauer  resigned  and  John  Churaii  was 
elected  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  his  stead. 
Work.  Benev.  Polit.  Society  Pokrok  announced  V. 
Vondracek  as  its  new   delegate. 

It  was  resolved  to  rent  10  acres  outside  the 
cemetery  free  of  charge  to  anyone  who  would  culti- 
vate this  land  and  take  care  of  it.  A  contract  to 
this  effect  was  made  with   Mr.  Karasek. 

The  building  of  the  gate  was  given  to  Mr.  J.  V. 
Benes  in  recognition  of  his  many  services  furnished 
free  of  charge.  His  offer  was  $1,480  (Mr.  Kralovec's 
$1,445  and  Mr.  Otradovec's  $1,500). 

On  June  30  new  delegates  were  announced  by 
liip  Lodge,  Vac.  Matejka  and  Jos.  Hajek. 

The  annual  celebration  of  this  year  required  a 
special  interview  by  Mr.  Alois  Pergler  with  the  rail- 
road management  which  was  not  willing  to  send  out 
two  return  trains  in  the  evening,  but  the  desired 
agreement  was  finally  reached. 

On  July  14  Vysehrad  Lodge  No.  48  C.  S.  P.  S. 
became  a  member,  with  Petr  Podzimek  and  John 
Kuttan  as  delegates;  other  new  delegates  were  Ant. 
Kozel  and  John  Chleboun  (Jiri  Podebradsky  Lodge)  ; 
Mart.  Baumruker  (Vernost  Lodge)  ;  in  August  J. 
Martinek  (Sokol  Gymn.  Assn.),  and  Em.  A.  Haas 
and  V.  Tejcek    (Rovnost  Lodge). 

St.  Vaclav  Society  disbanded,  because  it  lost  its 
school  building  which  was  adjudged  by  the  court  to 
the  priest  as  church  property.  The  Association  which 
held  its  meetings  in  that  school  had  to  look  for  a 
new  meeting  place.  First  the  hall  of  American  Sokol 
at  De  Koven  St.  was  rented,  but  when  it  was  found 
unsatisfactory,  the  Association  moved  to  the  hall  of 
Sokol  Gym^n.  Association  at  Pilsen. 

Vaclav  Obcansky  Rad  No.  23,  formed  from  the 
disbanded  St.  Vaclav  Society,  became  a  member 
(delegates  Jos.  Hrubec  and  Fr.  Rezek),  as  well  as 
Lincoln  Lodge  No.  52  C.  S.  P.  S.  (delegates  Fr.  Dvo- 
rak and  Vac.  Sticha)  and  Bohemian  Sharpshooters 
No.  1  (delegates  John  Hanzlik  and  Norb.  Kfenek). 
A  new  delegate,  Vac.  Kuchynka,  was  announced  by 
the  Bohemian  Tailors^  Society.  Other  new  delegates 
were     admitted :       Fr.     Prochazka     from     Vysehrad 

27 


Lodge ;  Thomas  Kalas  from  Boh.  Amer.  Sokol ;  Ludv. 
Novy  from  Obcansky  Rad  No.  9  and  John  Vrba  from 
Osveta  Lodge;  the  Work.  Benev.  Polit.  Society  Po-^ 
krok  changed  its  name  to  Pokrok  Lodge  No.  65  C. 
S.  P.  S. 

Several  changes  occurred  also  in  the  Committee : 
Fl.  Otradovsky  resigned  and  Vac.  Kuchyfika  was 
elected  Recording  Secretary  on  September  22.  V. 
Matas  resigned  and  Fr.  Rothbauer  was  appointed  his 
successor  by  the  president.  Fr.  Fisher  was  elected 
to  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  replace  John  Churafi. 
The  attendance  at  meetings  began  to  slacken,  there- 
fore all  societies  were  requested  to  admonish  the 
delegates  to  fulfill  their  duties.  Only  during  the 
winter  months  the  more  remote  societies  were  re^ 
lieved  in  the  sense  that  instead  of  both  delegates 
only  one  was  obliged  to  attend  the  meetings. 

The  semiannual  financial  report  on  October  20 
was  as  follows:  receipts,  $4,719.76;  disbursements, 
$4,174.40;  cash  balance,  $545.36. 

The  desirability  of  a  Memorial  Book  was  dis- 
cussed, and  Mr.  Bernhard  promised  to  bring  such  a 
book  as  a  gift  of  the  Bohemian  Brethren.  The  new 
gate  was  reported  finished  on  November  17  and  the 
payment  of  the  balance  due  was  recommended. 

In  December  the  following  new  delegates  were 
announced:  Mart.  Jensik  (Obcansky  Had  No.  2); 
Vac.  Ludvik  (Mor.  Slav.  Benev.  Society)  ;  John  Nerad 
(Cesko-Delnicky  Lodge)  ;  Jos.  Jankovsky  and  Fr. 
Ring  (Pokrok  Lodge)  ;  Fr.  Lahvic  (Boh.  Sharpshoot- 
ers No.  1)  ;  Thom.  Kamis  (Cesko-Narodnf  Lodge)  ; 
Jos.  Smrcina  and  John  Novotny  (Jungmann  Lodge)  ; 
John   Mencl    (Vysehrad  Lodge). 


1881 

New  January  delegates  were  as  follows:  Fr. 
Hess  (Pravda  Lodge)  ;  Fr.  Fiser  (Vernost  Lodge)  ; 
Fr.  Kolaf  (Jifi  Podebradsky  Lodge)  ;  Ant.  Vesecky 
(Lincoln  Lodge). 

At  the  meeting  of  February  9  the  Memorial 
Book,  dedicated  by  the  Bohemian  Brethren  Society,. 
was  presented.    First  it  was  resolved  to  ask  Mr.  Fencl 

28 


as  charter  member  to  describe  the  history  of  the 
Association  from  the  beginning  in  the  book,  but  later 
a  committee  was  elected,  Jos.  Matousek,  Thom.  Ko- 
satka  and  Em.  Haase  who  were  instructed  to  ask 
Mr.  Frank  B.  Zdrubek  to  write  such  a  history  and  to 
preserve  it  in  this  Memorial  Book  for  all  future 
times. 

The  Association  now  had  sufficient  sources  of 
new  finances,  and  therefore  it  was  resolved  that  after 
January  1,  1882,  only  5/f  interest  should  be  paid  and 
new  loans  accepted  only  at  the  same  rate  of  interest. 

On  April  6  a  helper  for  the  grave-digger,  whose 
work  had  been  considerably  increased,  was  approved. 
His  son  was  appointed  at  a  salary  of  $1.50  a  day. 
New  delegates  were  admitted:  Vac.  Ksandr  (Cesko- 
Narodni  Lodge)   and  Jos.  Kfist'an   (Osveta  Lodge). 

On  April  20  the  superintendent,  Mr.  Benes,  re- 
ported that  the  first  private  tomb,  for  the  Kalal  fam- 
ily, was  to  be  built.  The  Committee  instructed  him 
to  draft  an  appropriate  article  which  would  be  adopt- 
ed by  the  Association  as  a  part  of  the  statutes.  New 
delegates  were  admitted:  John  Benes  and  V.  Bartos 
(Cesko-Delnicky  Lodge)  ;  Proc.  Hudek  and  Jos.  Strobl 
(Pokrok  Lodge  No.  65);  Ant.  Kouba  (Mor.  Slav. 
Benev.  Society). 

On  May  4  at  the  fourth  annual  meeting  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected:  Jos.  Matousek,  Presi- 
dent; Vac.  Topinka,  Vice-President;  Em.  Haase,  Rec. 
Secretary;  Proc.  Hudek,  Financial  Secretary;  Vaclav 
Ksander,  Treasurer;  Fr.  Fiser,  Jos.  Jakubka  and 
Vaclav  Tesaf,  Board  of  Trustees.  The  receipts 
from  November  3,  1880,  to  May  4,  1881,  were 
$2,880.61,  disbursements  $2,502.86,  cash  balance 
$377.75.  The  salary  of  Mr.  Lahvice,  the  grave-digger, 
was  raised  to  $30.00  a  month.  The  following  societies 
sent  new  delegates:  Palacky  Lodge — V.  Topinka; 
Obcansky  Rad  No.  2 — J.  Holpuch ;  Sokol  Gymn.  Asso- 
ciation— Vac.  Matejka;  Obc.  fiad  No.  9 — Phil.  Novak; 
Otakar  Lodge  No.  78,  K.  of  P. — Alois  Palda;  Boh. 
Brethren — John  Bernhardt  and  Jos.  Trojan;  Praha 
Lodge  No.  13 — Jos.  Jakubka;  Jungmann  Lodge  No. 
20 — Jos.  Smrcina  and  Fr.  Novotny. 

Many  improvements  were  made  at  the  cemetery, 

29 


and  for  Sundays  and  Mondays  a  policeman  from  Jef- 
ferson township  was  hired  to  protect  the  cemetery 
against  loafers. 

Upon  motion  of  Rovnost  Lodge  the  question  of  a 
salary  for  the  recording  and  financial  secretary  was 
discussed.  Both  served  up  to  that  time  without  any 
compensation,  but  now  their  work  was  taking  so 
much  time  that  compensation  was  only  just.  Finally 
on  December  28  the  salary  of  the  recording  secre- 
tary was  fixed  at  $50.00,  of  the  financial  secretary 
also  at  $50.00  and  of  the  treasurer  at  $30.00  a  year. 
Further  it  was  resolved  that  the  members  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  shall  receive  $2.50  for  every  trip 
to  the  cemetery.  After  this  enactment  the  fin.  secre- 
tary Hudek,  the  treasurer  Ksandr  and  Fr.  Fiser  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  declared  that  they  would  serve 
to  the  end  of  their  terms  free  of  charge  and  their 
offfer  was  accepted  by  the  Association  with  thanks. 

In  June  and  July  the  following  societies  sent  new 
delegates:  Boh.  Brethren — John  Palma;  Boh.  Sharp- 
shooters— Proc.  Hudek  and  Chas.  Raus;  Osveta  Lodge 
No.  27 — Chas.  Drabek;  Boh.  Tailors'  Society — Vac. 
Stehlik. 

The  annual  celebration  held  on  Sunday  July  31 
at  Karasek's  garden  met  with  unusual  success.  About 
7,000  persons  were  at  the  cemetery  and  in  the  gar- 
den, the  net  proceeds  were  $1,924.11,  from  which 
some  of  the  oldest  loans  were  paid. 

V.  Tesaf  and  Jos.  Jakubka  who  resigned  from 
the  Board  of  Trustees  were  succeeded  by  Jos.  Kfist'an 
and  Thom.  Kamis,  the  third  member,  V.  Matejka,  re- 
tained his  office.  From  October  to  the  end  of  the 
year  the  following  new  delegates  were  admitted : 
John  Brejcha — Praha  Lodge  No.  13;  Alois  Cinkl — Ob- 
cansky  Kad  No.  23;  St.  Sramek — Fire  Aid  Society; 
Chas.  Libal — Rip  Lodge  No.  41 ;  Rufin  Jirsa  and  Vac. 
Hopp — Boh.  Amer.  Sokol ;  Fr.  Masa — Pokrok  Lodge 
No.  65;  Vac.  Klima  and  Jos.  Kaisler — Obcansky  ftad 
No.  2;  Fr.  Svatek — Jungmann  Lodge  No.  20;  Andrew 
Kubes  and  John  Skopec — Jifi  Podebradsky  Lodge 
No.  24 ;  Chas.  Soldat  and  Fr.  Suk — Lincoln  Lodge  No. 
52;  Jacob  Struhadlo — Vysehrad  Lodge  No.  48;  John 
Vejrostek — Obcansky  Rad  No.  2;  Jos.  Tolar — Boh. 
Work.  Society. 

30 


1882 

In  the  first  three  months  of  this  year  the  follow- 
ing new  delegates  were  admitted:  Jacob  Cerny — Jifi 
Podebradsky  Lodge  No.  24;  Caspar  Cerny — Otakar 
Lodge,  K.  of  P.;  Jacob  Koupal — Praha  Lodge;  J.  V. 
Matejka  and  Fr.  Mencl — Sokol  Gymn.  Assn.;  Ruf. 
Jirsa  and  Vac.  Hopp — Boh.  Amer.  Sokol;  Jos.  Cinkl — 
Fire  Aid  Society;  Wm.  Vogel — Vernost  Lodge;  Chas. 
Soldat  and  Fr.  Suk — Lincoln  Lodge;  F.  Lahvic — Rip 
Lodge;  Fr.  Fiser — Vernost  Lodge;  Mart.  Jensik — 
Obc.  Rad  No.  2;  Edw.  Ilezanka^-Sokol  Gymn.  Assn.; 
Ant.  Uhlif  and  Jos.  Spousta — Vernost  Lodge ;  F.  Dvo- 
rak— Praha  Lodge;  Mat.  Shanel  and  Vojt.  Janecek — 
Osveta  Lodge.  Two  loans  were  paid,  Singing  Society 
Lyra  $50.00  and  Osveta  Lodge  $300.00  and  two  new 
loans  were  accepted,  Palacky  Lodge  No.  630  L  O.  O. 
F.,  $200.00,  and  Otakar  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  $200.00. 

In  the  spring  the  roads  to  the  cemetery  being 
almost  impassable,  an  agreement  was  made  with  the 
township  of  Jefferson  which  asked  for  one  third  of 
the  amount  required  for  improvement.  This  amount 
of  $300.17  was  approved. 

In  April  and  May  the  following  societies  sent 
new  delegates:  Palacky  Lodge — Jos.  Base;  Ces.-Na- 
rodni  Lodge  No.  58 — Chas.  Lusk;  Rovnost  Lodge — 
Fr.  Fiser;  Otakar  Lodge — J.  Vodicka;  Vaclav  Lodge 
— Fr.  Novak;  Pokrok  Lodge — Chas.  Jankovsky;  Ver- 
nost Lodge — Flor.  Otradovsky;  Jungmann^  Lodge — 
Jos.  Ruze;  Obc.  Rad  No.  2 — John  Pavel;  Ces.-Delni- 
cky   Lodge   No.    73 — John    Hamza. 

The  fifth  annual  meeting  was  held  on  May  3. 
Jos.  Matousek  was  elected  President;  Vac.  Topinka, 
Vice-President;  Em.  A.  Haase,  Rec.  Secretary;  Proc. 
Hudek,  Fin.  Secretary;  Ant.  Kouba,  Treasurer;  Thom. 
Kamis,  Fr.  Fiser  and  Jos.  Vodicka,  Board  of  Trustees. 
Receipts  of  the  past  year  were  $5,626.13,  disburse- 
ments $5,324.26.  84  lots  were  sold  for  $2,760.00; 
491  persons  were  buried.  Loans  paid  amounted  to 
$2,830.00.  Thus  the  Association  had  debts  of  only 
$225.00  to  individuals  and  $5,350.00  to  societies. 

On  May  31  upon  motion  of  Chas.  Lusk  a  bell 
was  bought  for  the  small  steeple  above  the  cemetery 
gate. 

31 


For  the  summertime  a  policeman  was  engaged 
from  the  township  of  Jefferson  which  appointed  the 
grave-digger,  Mr.  Lahvice,  and  vested  him  with  the 
right  of  arresting  disturbers  of  the  peace. 

The  annual  celebration  was  marred  by  a  bad  all- 
day  rain. 

From  June  to  September  the  following  new  dele- 
gates were  admitted:  Jos.  Chaloupka — Praha  Lodge; 
Fr.  Kaspar — Boh.  Amer.  Sokol;  Jos.  Kubal — Obc. 
Kad  No.  2;  Jos.  Popelka  and  J.  Sima — Jifi  Podebrad- 
sky  Lodge;  John  Chochola — Boh.  Tailors'  Society; 
Fr.  Riha^ — Jungmann  Lodge;  Jos.  Mandl — Vysehrad 
Lodge]  Fr.  Gerhard — Praha  Lodge;  Jos.  Plachetka — 
Obc.  Rad  No.  2;  George  Nikodem — Pravda  Lodge; 
Vacy  Puc— Obc.  Md  No.  23;  Fr.  Pavlicek— Boh. 
Sharpshooters;  Vac.  Smidl  resigned  as  delegate  of 
the  Obcansky  Rad  No.  9  which  disbanded. 

Lincoln  Lodge  No.  52  C.  S.  P.  S.  held  a  ball  on 
September  30  for  the  benefit  of  a  national  monu- 
ment at  the  cemetery.  The  net  proceeds  of  $100.00 
were  deposited  in  the  bank  for  future  use. 

On  October  18  it  was  resolved  not  to  bury  in  the 
cemetery  any  person  who  died  of  small-pox. 

Upon  request  of  Mr.  Jos.  Dostal  the  Associa- 
tion instructed  the  recording  secretary  to  draft  a 
memorandum  of  confidence  in  Mr.  DostaFs  correct 
and  honest  actions  and  to  send  it  to  his  society. 

On  November  1  A.  Kouba  resigned  and  Jos.  Base 
was  elected  treasurer.  Proc.  Hudek  also  resigned  and 
George  Nikodem  was  elected  financial  secretary.  The 
society  Obcansky  Rad  No.  2  was  officially  informed 
that  its  delegate  Vac.  Klima  had  been  expelled  on 
account  of  his  infamous  public  utterances  about  the 
recording  secretary  and   the   entire   Association. 

On  November  15  a  comm.ittee  of  four,  Jos.  Ma- 
tousek,  Chas.  D.  Lusk,  Jos.  Fucik  and  George  Niko- 
dem, was  elected  to  draft  the  necessary  amendments 
to  the  statutes.  These  amendments  were  adopted 
after  the  third  reading  on  March  21,  1883. 

Lawyer  Lusk  who  was  appointed  for  all  neces- 
sary notarial  services  resigned  as  member  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. The  last  of  the  new  delegates  admitted  in 
this  year  were:  Fr.  Capouch  and  John  Mencl — Vyse- 

32 


JOHN  PECHA 

The  present  President  of  the  Bohemian  National  Ceme- 
tery  Association,    holding   this    office 
already  for  30  years 


Officers  of  the  Bohemian   National   Cemetery   Association 

Stan.    Simecek,    Vice-Pres. ;   Victor   H.    Filip,    Sec'y; 
Jos.   Jurka,   Treas. 


The    Board    of    Trustees    of    the    Bohemian    National 
Cemetery     Association 

Jar.    Bartos 
Jos.    Siman  Fr.    Boucek 


Bookkeepers     of     the     Bohemian     National     Cemetery 

John    Kozak 


Jar.   Gregor 


Jos.   Hroch 


Editorial    Committee    of    the    "History    of    the    Boh.    Nat. 
Cemetery" 


Stan.    Simecek 


Chas.  Kopecky 


J.    J.    Jelinek 


DR.    JAR.    E.    S.    VOJAN 

Author   of   the    English   version    cf   the    "History    of   the 
Boh.    Nat.    Cemetery." 


hrad  Lodge;  Mart.  Kuchaf  and  Fr.  Davidek — Lincoln 
Lodge;  Jos.  Rezny  and  Fr.  Riha — Jungmann  Lodge; 
Fr.  Svatos  and  Jos.  Soukup — Praha  Lodge;  Thorn. 
Kosatka — Boh.  Tailors'  Society;  Jacob  Prepejchal — 
Mor.  Slav.  Benev.  Society. 

1883 

On  January  1883  Vernost  Lodge  announced  Mr. 
Fr.  Mencl  as  its  delegate.  Since  he  was  already  dele- 
gate of  another  society,  Vernost  Lodge  was  informed 
that  the  statutes  do  not  allow  two  or  more  societies 
to  be  represented  by  the  same  delegate  and  that 
therefore  the  lodge  had  to  elect  another  delegate. — 
New  delegates:  Fr.  Ring  and  Ant.  Fiala — Pokrok 
Lodge;  Jos.  Dostal — Ces.-Narodni  Lodge;  John  Beran 
— Obc.  Rad  No.  2;  Fr.  Pavlicek  and  J.  Krasa — Boh. 
Sharpshooters. 

The  sixth  annual  meeting  was  held  on  May  2. 
Jos.  Matousek  was  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice- 
President;  Em.  A.  Haase,  Recording  Secretary; 
George  Nikodem,  Financial  Secretary;  Jos.  Base, 
Treasurer;  Fr.  Hess,  Jos.  Dostal  and  Jos.  Cinkl,  Board 
of  Trustees.  Mr.  J.  V.  Benes  retained  willingly  the 
office  of  cemetery  superintendent.  Receipts  for  the 
past  year  were  $5,122.12  and  disbursements  $4,493.91. 

A  fireproof  safe  was  bought  for  $180.00  for 
keeping  all  books,  papers  and  documents  of  the  Asso- 
ciation in  safety.  Clock-maker  Mr.  Steffek  donated 
a  fine  clock  ajid  Hubka  Brothers  a  picture  for  the 
office.     Both  gifts  were  accepted  with  thanks. 

The  net  proceeds  of  the  annual  celebration  held 
on  July  29  were  $1,897.95. 

On  August  22  $1,704.53  was  paid  on  the  loans 
of  societies  with  interest. 

On  October  3  Vac.  Topinka  was  elected  tempo- 
rary treasurer,  because  Mr.  Base  resigned  and  moved 
to  Wisconsin. 

First  donations  in  accordance  with  the  statutes 
were  voted  on  December  12,  $100.00  for  the  Bunker 
Street  School  and  $100.00  for  the  18th  Street  School. 

The  semiannual  financial  report  showed  a  cash 
balance  of  $1,728.82  (receipts  $3,991.36,  disburse- 
ments $2,262.54). 

33 


New  delegates:  Mat.  Dusek — Vernost  Lodge; 
Ant.  Kubes  and  John  Pavek — Jifi  Podebradsky 
Lodge;  Norb.  Kfenek  and  Vac.  Drz — Boh.  Shrap- 
shooters;  Vac.  Matas — Vysehrad  Lodge;  Fr.  Mencl 
and  E.  A.  Haase — ^Sokol  Gymn.  Assn. ;  Ant.  Dundl — 
Jungmann  Lodge;  John  Peroutka — Kip  Lodge;  Jos. 
Matousek — Palacky  Lodge  ;  Gasp.  Cerny — Otakar 
Lodge,  K.  of  P.;  F.  C.  Matasek — Rovnost  Lodge;  Jos. 
Cinkl  and  V.  Topinka — Fire  Aid  Society;  Mart.  Lud- 
vik  and  Jos.  Tomek — Boh.  Tailors'  Society;  Ferd. 
Reis  and  Vaclav  Kouba — Mor.  Slav.  Benev.  Society; 
Ant.  Potucek — Ces.-Narodni  Lodge;  Vac.  Seyk — Po- 
krok  Lodge ;  John  Pecha — Vysehrad  Lodge ;  Jos.  Kost- 
ner — Palacky  Lodge;  Fr.  Bilek  and  Fr.  Pancner — 
Lincoln  Lodge;  Ant.  Kubes  and  Fr.  Cimanzl — Jifi  Po- 
debradsky Lodge;  Al.  Straka — Boh.  Tailors'  Society. 


1884 

Klacel  Monument  Association  which  was  organ- 
ized to  erect  a  monument  at  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery  to  Prof.  Ladimir  Klacel,  the  great  pioneer 
of  Free  Thought,  requested  the  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion to  appoint  Mr.  V.  Topinka  as  delegate  to  the 
Klacel  Monument  Association  in  order  to  facilitate 
prompt  agreement  between  these  two  bodies.  It  was 
resolved  that  the  center  of  the  main  circle  in  the  new 
section  be  dedicated  for  the  monument. 

Important  road  improvements  in  the  cemetery 
as  well  as  in  front  of  the  same  were  already  begun 
in  March  because  of  the  better  and  cheaper  labor 
at  that  time. 

On  April  16  the  salaries  of  all  officers  were  in- 
creased: the  president  to  receive  $30.00,  the  record- 
ing secretary  $50.00,  the  financial  secretary  $100.00, 
the  treasurer  $30.00,  the  board  of  trustees  $3.00  for 
each  trip.  The  salary  of  the  grave-digger  was  fixed 
at  $40.00. 

On  May  4  it  was  resolved  to  divide  one  half  of 
the  net  proceeds  of  the  annual  celebration  as  follows: 
$100.00  for  Klacel's  monument  and  the  rest  to 
schools  in  the  6th  and  8th  ward.  The  new  school 
in  the  14th  ward  was  also  to  get  a  donation  on  con- 

34 


dition  of  the  good  progress  of  the  same.  The  other 
half  of  the  net  proceeds  was  to  be  retained  by  the 
cemetery. 

The  question  of  telephone  connection  was  post- 
poned, because  it  was  found  that  the  Telephone  Com- 
pany charged  $400.00  for  the  installation  and  25  cents 
for  every  message. 

New  delegates  from  January  to  the  end  of  April : 
Ant.  Recek — Osveta  Lodge  ;  John  Cesal — Vysehrad 
Lodge;  Fr.  Tesaf  and  John  Kostka — Praha  Lodge  (if 
not  mentioned  otherwise,  ''lodge"  means  a  lodge  of 
C.  S.  P.  S.)  ;  Fr.  Hauer — Mor.  Slav.  Benev.  Society; 
Jos.  Dvorak — Boh.  Tailors'  Society;  Vojt.  Silha — 
Vernost  Lodge ;  J.  Hlavka — Vaclav  Obc.  Rad ;  Ant. 
Sedlacek — Obcansky  Sad  No.  2;  John  Liska — Otakar 
Lodge,   K.  of  P.;   Jos.  A.  Smejkal — Rovnost  Lodge. 

The  annual  meeting  was  held  on  May  14.  Jos. 
Matousek  was  again  elected  President,  Fr.  Mencl 
Vice-President;  Em.  A.  Haase,  Rec.  Secretary;  George 
Nikodem,  Fin.  Secretary;  Vac.  Topinka,  Treasurer; 
Fr.  Haase,  Jos.  Kostner  and  Jos.  Cinkl,  Board  of 
Trustees;  Fr.  Ring,  Fr.  Tesar  and  John  Kotek,  Audit- 
ing Committee;  J.  V.  Benes,  Cemetery  Superinten- 
dent. 

Rules  for  private  monuments  and  enclosures  were 
laid  down,  picking  of  flowers  on  lots  and  graves  and 
other  similar  misdemeanors  were  prohibited,  and  all 
other  routine  work  was  done  in  these  months.. 

New  delegates:  Ant.  Brom — Osveta  Lodge,  V. 
Rousek — Boh.  Sharpshooters;  V.  Cerveny — Jungmann 
Lodge;  John  Hamza — Ces.-Delnicky  Lodge;  Ant. 
Uhlif — Vernost  Lodge. 

The  annual  celebration  on  July  27  became  an 
historical  event,  because  it  w^as  connected  with  the 
laying  of  the  foundation-stone  to  Prof.  Klacel's  Monu- 
ment for  which  the  Free  Thought  Community  in  Chi- 
cago and  other  societies  in  sympathy  with  the  Free 
Thought  were  collecting  funds.  The  procession  was 
truly  remarkable  and  showed  the  great  strength  of 
these  societies.  At  the  cemetery  Frank  B.  Zdrubek, 
the  speaker  of  the  day,  delivered  a  splendid  speech 
in  which  he  put  stress  on  the  harmony  and  fervor  of 
the   societies    as   well    as   individual    frethinkers    who 

35 


built  up  this  beautiful  cemetery  in  such  a  short  time 
and  made  it  a  phenomenal  success.  All  debts — and 
there  were  many — were  paid  up  within  six  years. 
And  now  this  cemetery  was  to  be  embellished  by  a 
monument  erected  in  honor  of  Ladimir  Klacel,  a 
teacher  and  awakener  of  the  Bohemian  people  of 
America,  a  pioneer  of  the  Free  Thought  and  Ration- 
alism, the  memory  of  whom  will  never  be  forgotten 
in  this  country.  The  ceremony  ended  with  the  plac- 
ing of  memorials  and  documents  into  foundation- 
stone  by  all  societies  represented. 

The  receipts  of  this  celebration  were  $4,050.79, 
disbursements  $1,937.98,  and  from  the  net  proceeds 
of  $2,122.82 — according  to  the  above  mentioned  reso- 
lution— $500.00  was  given  to  the  Bohemian  18th 
Street  School,  $500.00  to  the  Bunker  Street  School, 
$100.00  to  the  Northwest  Side  school,  $100.00  to  the 
Klacel  Monument  Association  and  $100.00  to  a  widow, 
Mrs.  Anna   Castka,   and  her  children. 

There  could  not  be  the  slightest  doubt  now  that 
the  entire  area  of  the  cemetery  would  very  soon  be 
occupied,  and  therefore  it  was  resolved  that  the  com- 
mittee should  make  all  efforts  to  get  an  additional 
10  acres  in  the  vicinity  for  a  reasonable  price. 

The  financial  statement  from  May  14  to  October 
29,  1884,  was  as  follows:  receipts  $5,288.53,  disburse- 
ments $3,054.83,  cash  balance  $2,233.70. 


1885 

The  financial  situation  of  the  Association  had  as- 
sumed such  a  favorable  aspect  that  when  Garfield 
Lodge  No.  90  C.  S.  P.  S.  applied  for  membership  with 
the  usual  loan  of  $50.00  this  amount  was  declined 
with  thanks  and  the  society  admitted  without  it.  Its 
delegates  were  Jos.  Siller  and  Jos.  Kozojed.  Other 
new  delegates  admitted  in  the  first  semester  were: 
Mat.  Skala — Ces.-Delnicky  Lodge;  Fr.  Fencl — Ces.- 
Narodni  Lodge;  Jos.  Matousek — Palacky  Lodge  L  O. 
O.  F. ;  Louis  Zavadil — Rovnost  Lodge;  John  Vondra 
and  Ign.  Polanka —  Jiri  Pod.  Lodge;  Fr.  Sikyta — 
Pokrok  Lodge;  Fr.  Hloucal — Vysehrad  Lodge;  Jos. 
Hladovec — Boh.  Amer.  Sokol. 

36 


The  prices  of  lots  in  the  new  section  were  fixed 
at  $60.00  at  the  main  road,  $50.00  at  the  side  roads, 
$40.00  at  the  narrow  roads  and  the  corner  lots  $1.00 
higher.  Four  lots  around  Klacel's  monument  were 
priced  at  $100.00. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  May  Jos.  Matousek 
was  elected  President,  Fr.  Kaspar,  Vice-President; 
Fr.  Ring,  Rec.  Secretary;  George  Nikodem,  Fin.  Sec- 
retary; Vac.  Topinka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  Kostner,  E.  A. 
Haase  and  John  Kotek,  Board  of  Trustees;  John  Be- 
nes,  Cemetery  Superintendent,  and  Fr.  Tesaf,  Louis 
Zavadil   and   John   Kotek,   Auditing   Committee. 

It  was  resolved  to  build  a  spacious  green-house 
for  cultivation  of  plants  and  to  make  efforts  to  ex- 
terminate ants  at  the  cemetery  by  hot  water. 

On  August  5  the  Klacel  Monument  Association 
reported  that  it  had  collected  $638.05  and  the  price 
of  the  monument  being  $800.00,  asked  the  Cemetery 
Association  to  donate  the  rest  of  $161.95.  The  re- 
quest was  granted,  the  superintendent,  Mr.  Benes, 
inspected  the  monument  and  when  sculptor,  Mr.  Fr. 
Hess,  promised  to  make  some  corrections,  found  neces- 
sary by  Mr.  Benes,  the  monument  was  accepted. 

The  annual  celebration  and  the  unveiling  of  Kla- 
ceFs  Monument  were  held  on  July  26.  It  was  a  note- 
worthy manifestation  by  Chicago  freethinkers.  Many 
of  those  who  were  contemporaries  of  the  great  philos- 
opher were  present.  The  great  procession  was  the 
more  impressive  in  that  it  was  marching  without 
bands,  with  only  the  rolling  of  veiled  drums,  on 
account  of  the  national  mourning  occasioned  by  the 
death  of  President  Ulysses  Simpson  Grant  who  died 
July   23,   1885. 

F.  B.  Zdrubek,  president  of  Klacel  Monument 
Association,  was  the  speaker  of  the  day,  Jos.  Matou- 
sek, president  of  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery 
Association,  accepted  the  monument  in  the  name  of 
the  cemetery  and  promised  to  keep  it  faithfully  in 
trust.  Mr.  Zbanek  of  Cedar  Rapids,  who  was  presi- 
dent of  the  committee  which  in  June,  1884,  had 
erected  a  monument  to  Klacel  at  Belle  Plaine,  la., 
where  Klacel  was  buried,  also  delivered  an  address, 
and  finally  Mr.  Ant.  Jurka,  teacher  of  St.  Paul,  Minn., 

37 


delivered  greetings  of  Cech  Lodge  No.  12  C.  S.  P.  S., 
St.  Paul,  and  remarked  that  we  would  erect  the  best 
monument  to  Klacel,  if  we  would  teach  our  children 
to  love  the  Bohemian  mother-tongue.  Sixty-five  tele- 
grams and  letters  were  read  from  all  larger  Bohe- 
mian settlements  in  the  United  States.  The  celebra- 
tion ended  with  entertainment  at  Karasek's  garden. 

''Ladimir  Klacel,  the  Bohemian  patriot,  philos- 
opher and  freethinker,'*  as  the  inscription  on  the  Belle 
Plaine  monument  reads,  arrived  in  the  United  States 
in  1869.  He  was  born  on  April  7,  1808,  at  Ceska 
Tfebova,  Bohemia,  taught  philosophy  at  Augustinian 
Friars  school  at  Brno,  Moravia,  but  was  deposed  from 
his  office  by  the  reactionary  Vienna  government 
which  accused  him  of  pantheism  and  political  radical- 
ism. When  Klacel  came  to  America,  he  was  in  his 
sixty-first  year.  Here  he  disseminated  rationalism 
among  American  Cechs  and  died  at  Belle  Plaine  on 
March  17,  1882. 

Receipts  of  the  celebration  were  $3,310.31,  dis- 
bursements  $1,784.82,   net   proceeds   $1,525.49. 

On  September  2  a  free  burial  of  a  child  was 
granted  to  a  poor  Bohemian  family  and  on  Septem- 
ber 16  five  dollars  were  given  to  Mrs.  Marie  Megs, 
suffering  from  poverty. 

The  contract  for  the  erection  of  the  green-house 
was  given  to  Mr.  J.  V.  Benes  for  $1,810,  not  including 
a  heater. 

New  delegates  admitted  in  the  second  semester 
were :  John  Blaha  and  Ad.  B.  Chladek — Otakar  Lodge 
K.  of  P. ;  Fr.  Hosna  and  Jos.  Krause — Ceska  Koruna 
Lodge;  Mart.  Jensik  and  Fr.  Odehnal — Obcansky 
Had  No.  2;  Fr.  Pech — Ces.-Delnicky  Lodge;  Jos.  Kos- 
t'al — Rip  Lodge;  Wm.  Piskacek  and  Gasp.  Cerny — 
Svobodna  Obec  No.  1 ;  Fr.  Cirhan — Osveta  Lodge ; 
Fr.  Kosatka  and  Jos.  Rothbauer — Otakar  Lodge,  K. 
of  P.;  Fr.  Smrt — Boh.  Sharpshooters;  John  Vondra 
and  Ign.  Polanek — Jifi  Podeb.  Lodge;  Chas.  Blazek — 
Boh.  Amer.  Sokol ;  Fr.  Kratky — Mor.  Slav.  Benev. 
Society. 

A  regular  gardener  became  a  necessity  and  ad- 
vertisements were  therefore  placed  in  two  Bohemian 
papers,  Svornost  and  Slavia,  and  in  the  Polish  Gaze- 

38 


ta.  From  14  Bohemian  and  3  Polish  applications  that 
of  Mr.  Leopold  Ine  was  chosen  in  a  secret  meeting 
on  October  7.  This  applicant  produced  a  recommen- 
dation of  the  Chicago  Florist  Association  and  there- 
fore received  the  majority  of  votes.  He  was  ap- 
pointed for  two  years  with  a  salary  of  $50.00  a 
month,  living  quarters  and  fuel,  and  was  placed  un- 
der a  bond  of  $500.00. 

The  semiannual  statement  from  May  13  to  Octo- 
ber 28  was:  Receipts,  $3,715.65,  and  disbursements, 
$2,874.28;  cash  balance,  $841.36. 


1886 

On  January  6  it  was  reported  that  all  cemetery 
roads  were  finished.     The   cost  was  $2,414.07. 

On  January  20  the  committee  was  instructed  to 
begin  with  the  work  on  an  artesian  well.  The  con- 
tracted price — as  it  was  reported  on  February  3 — 
was  $1.75  a  foot  to  the  depth  of  1,600  feet  and  $1.95 
a  foot  to  the  depth  of  2,000  feet.  The  work  was  to 
be  stopped  as  soon  as  sufficient  water  should  be 
found. 

Palacky  Lodge  loaned  to  the  Association  $500.00 
and  Otakar  Lodge  $400.00  at  51/2%. 

On  February  17  it  was  reported  that  through  the 
good  offices  of  Mr.  Fr.  Fucik  many  flowers  were 
donated  to  the  cemetery  from  city  parks. 

On  March  3  prices  for  decorating  graves  were 
fixed. 

On  April  14  it  was  resolved  to  buy  a  horse  and 
a  wagon  for  the  cemetery  and  to  hire  a  man  to  take 
care  of  it. 

On  April  28  the  committee  was  instructed  to  in- 
form the  public  that  the  gardener  was  allowed  to 
sell  flowers  besides  those  for  the  cemetery  also  for 
private  homes. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  held  on  May  12,  Jos. 
Matousek  was  elected  President,  Fr.  Kaspar,  Vice- 
President;  Fr.  Ring,  Rec.  Secretary;  George  Nikodem, 
Fin.  Secretary;  Jos.  Kostner,  Treasurer;  E.  A.  Haase, 
V.  Topinka  and  Jos.  Smejkal,  Board  of  Trustees; 
J.  V.  Benes,  cemetery  superintendent.     The  financial 

39 


statement  from  November  11,  1885,  to  April  28, 
1886:  Receipts,  $6,621.52;  disbursements,  $6,236.51; 
cash  balance,  $385.01. 

On  May  26  a  grave  was  given  gratis  to  a  poor 
v^idow,  Mrs.  Altmeyer,  for  her  deceased  husband. 

On  June  9  the  grave-digger  and  the  gardener 
were  sworn  in  at  Jefferson  as  policemen,  authorized 
to  arrest  any  wrong-doer  at  the  cemetery. — ^The  arte- 
sian well  was  finished,  giving  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
water  at  the  depth  of  1,600  feet. — The  Board  of  Trus- 
tees submitted  a  valuation  of  the  whole  property  of 
the  National  Cemetery,  taken  at  a  moderate  price 
and  fixed  at  $62,276.80. 

The  annual  celebration  was  held  on  Sunday,  July 
28.  The  picturesque  procession  of  all  societies 
through  the  city  to  the  depot,  with  banners  and 
bands,  Marshall  Edw.  Holy  at  the  head,  created  a 
big  impression.  Next  morning  the  reporter  of  "The 
Inter-Ocean"  said  in  a  fine  article  that  he  had  never 
before  seen  such  joyous  people  on  a  holiday  and  so 
well-behaved  as  on  this  occasion.  Receipts  were 
$4,239.22,  disbursements  $1,988.27,  net  proceeds 
$2,250.95. 

On  September  1  the  committee  was  instructed  to 
build  a  stone-cistern,  6  by  6  feet,  at  the  well  for 
$265.00. 

On  August  18  Fr.  Hess  and  Wm.  Piskacek  were 
sent  as  delegates  to  the  celebration  of  the  opening 
of  the  National  Cemetery  at  Braidwood,  111.,  held  on 
August  23. 

The  semiannual  financial  statement  from  April 
28  to  October  31  was:  Receipts  $6,421.24,  disburse- 
ments $5,829.00,  cash  balance  $591.26. 

New  delegates  admitted  during  the  year:  Jos. 
Janousek  and  John  Peroutka — ftip  Lodge;  John  Ba- 
bor — Vysehrad  Lodge;  Rud.  Vopat — Pokrok  Lodge; 
Vac.  Puc  and  Thom.  Miller — Vaclav  Obc.  Had;  Vine. 
Kopecky — Fire  Aid  Society;  John  Skupa — Lincoln 
Lodge;  John  Rajchart  and  Chas.  Kopfiva,  succeeded 
later  by  Vac.  Balsan  and  Jos.  Vopat — Boh.  Sharp- 
shooters; Jos.  A.  Smejkal — Rovnost  Lodge;  John 
Chvala — Jifi  Podebradsky  Lodge;  John  Nemec,  suc- 
ceeded later  by  Vojt.  Janecek — Boh.  Amer.  Sokol ;  Fr. 

40 


Husak  and  Rud.  Fortner,  succeeded  later  by  John 
Kfivanek  and  John  Lukes  and  these  again  by  Fr.  Ne- 
kola  and  John  Hora — Jungmann  Lodge;  Vac.  Klima 
— Obcansky  Rad  No.  2;  Fr.  Kucaba  and  Ant.  Kry- 
zan — new  member — Jifi  Washington  Lodge  No.  66 
C.  S.  P.  S. ;  Jos.  Braza — Svob.  Obec ;  Jos.  Machacek — 
Ceska  Koruna  Lodge. 


1887 

On  January  5  it  was  resolved  to  ask  all  debtors 
to  pay  up,  because  the  total  of  debts  amounted  to 
$2,317  and  to  charge  them  6%  on  their  debt  until 
paid. — Mr.  Scheiner  sent  a  donation  of  $10.00. 

After  negotiations  with  the  Telephone  Company 
which  fixed  the  price  of  the  telephone  connection 
between  the  cemetery  and  the  city  at  $500.00  and 
asked  a  guarantee  of  at  least  $180.00  a  year  for  mes- 
sages, it  was  resolved  to  sign  the  contract,  because 
such  a  connection  became  an  absolute  necessity.  The 
connection  was  formed  on   March  30. 

It  was  also  resolved  to  buy  another  horse  and 
wagon  and  to  build  another  green-house. 

On  March  2  it  was  resolved  to  sell  lots  only  to 
one  person  and  never  to  several  individuals  and  to 
draw  up  the  cession  to  only  one  person  in  order  to 
avoid  many  troubles. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  11  Fr.  Tesaf  was 
elected  President,  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  Jaroslav 
Lenoch,  Rec.  Secretary;  Thomas  Kosatka,  Fin.  Secre- 
tary; Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Nekola,  Smejkal  and 
Hora,  Board  of  Trustees;  Fr.  Hess  Cemetery  Superin- 
tendent. 

On  June  6  the  Committee  received  the  permis- 
sion from  the  County  Sheriff  to  have  a  Deputy  Sheriff 
for  whom  a  bond  of  $4,500  was  deposited.  This  pro- 
vision was  very  urgent  for  keeping  order  at  the  ceme- 
tery. Mr.  J.  A.  Smejkal  was  appointed  the  first  Dep- 
uty Sheriff.  It  was  resolved  that  no  games  and  no 
betting  for  money  should  be  allowed  at  the  ceme- 
tery. In  consequence  of  complaints  that  on  week- 
days many  picnics  were  being  held  near  the  ceme- 
tery, carriages  took  up  the  road  along  the  cemetery, 

41 


beer  was  drawn  and  various  disturbances  committed, 
it  was  resolved  to  publish  public  warnings  in  news- 
papers and  to  urge  everybody  to  desist  from  such 
offenses. 

The  annual  celebration  was  held  on  July  31. 
The  procession  with  Marshall  E.  Holy  and  the  Slavo- 
nic Band  was  imposing,  and  the  celebration,  aided 
by  the  fine  weather,  resulted  in  a  great  success.  The 
receipts  were  $3,174.05,  the  disbursements  $1,890.35, 
the  net  proceeds  $1,283.70. 

On  August  31  it  was  reported  that  the  new  green- 
house increased  the  sales  of  flowers  to  such  an  extent 
that  the  net  profit  during  the  last  six  months  was 
$510.64. 

On  September  14  it  was  resolved  that  persons 
not  of  Bohemian  descent  who  desired  burial  in  the 
National  Cemetery  must  comply  with  all  enacted  con- 
ditions and  rules.  $10.00  was  donated  for  the  found- 
ing of  a  Bohemian  Sunday  school  at  Ladimir  Klacel 
Hall. 

On  October  12  it  was  resolved  that  if  a  debtor 
refused  to  pay  for  the  purchased  lot,  the  body  buried 
in  that  lot  should  be  transferred  into  the  com.mon 
rows  and  the  lot  should  be  resold.  In  case  that  the 
address  of  the  debtor  was  unknown  the  intended  re- 
sale should  be  announced  in  the  newspapers  and  the 
transfer  of  the  dead  body  made  30  days  later.  The 
debts  for  lots  in  October  already  amounted  to  $4,445, 
therefore  John  Peroutka  was  intrusted  with  the  col- 
lections of  those  debts  for  $25. 

During  this  year  343  dead  were  buried,  10  of 
them  gratis. 

On  December  7  it  was  resolved  that  federal 
bonds  should  be  bought  for  the  surplus  in  the  treas- 
ury, and  the  committee  purchased  41/2  pct.  bonds 
for  $2,000.00.  The  entire  property  of  the  cemetery 
was  insured  for  loss  by  fire  ($3,500.00).  The  cost  of 
the  new  green-house  was  $865.32.  A  donation  of 
$25.00  was  given  to  the  14th  Ward  School. 

New  members  in  1887:  Bozena  Nemcova  Lodge 
No.  1022,  K.  L.  H.,  with  delegates  Vac.  Topinka  and 
Ant.  Kanak  (the  lodge  was  admitted  on  January  19 
and  withdrew  on  August  3)  ;  Vratislav  Lodge  No.  51 

42 


C.  S.  p.  S.  on  July  20,  with  delegates  F.  J.  Doubek 
and  J.  Havel. 

New  delegates  in  1887:  Otakar  Lodge,  K.  of  P.— 
Vac.  Bilek  and  Mat.  Blazek  (succeeded  by  L.  Melka)  ; 
Osveta  Lodge — John  Vysoky  and  Jos.  Ruecker;  Lin- 
coln Lodge — Chas.  Soldat  and  Aug.  Geringer;  Gar- 
field Lodge — Al.  Cerny  and  Chas.  Sramek;  Vac.  Obc. 
fiad — Mat.  Hanzlik;  Fire  Aid  Society — Mart.  Traznik 
and  Proc.  Fiser;  Hip  Lodge — Ign.  Slezak,  succeeded 
by  Mart.  Ring;  Vysehrad  Lodge — John  Mencl,  suc- 
ceeded by  Mat.  Vesely  and  Mart.  Silhanek;  Ces.-Del- 
nicky  Lodge — Ant.  Hybl  and  Fr.  Vranek,  later  J. 
Hospes;  Jiri  Podebradsky  Lodge — John  Vondra  and 
John  Chvala;  Ces.-Nar.  Lodge — Fr.  Duha;  Praha 
Lodge — Jar.  Lenoch;  Vernost  Lodge — Vac.  Slapak; 
Mor.  Slav.  Benev.  Society — Jos.  Komeraus  and  Fr. 
Masek;  Ceska  Koruna  Lodge — Vac.  Stal  and  Mat. 
Han;  Boh.  Sharpshooters — Jos.  Caithamr  and  Jos. 
Francl;  Boh.  Amer.  Sokol — Rud.  Kapsa;  Jifi  Wash- 
ington Lodge — E.  Smola;  Obcansky  fiad  No.  2 — Fr. 
Riedl;  Rovnost  Lodge — Jos.  Svojse. 


1888 

On  February  29  it  was  reported  that  the  effort 
to  collect  debts  had  been  unsatisfactory.  Therefore 
it  was  resolved  to  try  again  and  to  remit  all  uncol- 
lected cases  to  a  lawyer  for  collection.  All  legal 
work  was  given  to  Mr.  C.  D.  Lusk. 

The  total  number  of  burials  (from  the  begin- 
ning)  was  4,061,  and  813  lots  were  sold. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  9  Jos.  Matousek 
was  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President; 
Em.  A.  Haase,  Rec.  Secretary;  Thom.  Kosatka,  Fin. 
Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos,  A.  Smejkal, 
Jos.  Kostner  and  George  Nikodem,  Board  of  Trus- 
tees; Fr.  Hess,  Cemetery  Superintendent;  Aug.  Ge- 
ringer, Fr.  Ring  and  Jos.  Svojse,  Auditing  Commit- 
tee. Receipts  in  this  half  were  $7,659.25,  disburse- 
ments $6,624.75;  248  burials  of  which  6  were  free 
of  charge,  50  lots  sold;  $1,800  was  paid  up  on  loans 
during  the  past  year. 

Upon  motion  of  Fr.  Hess  it  was  resolved  to  hold 

43 


only  one  meeting  every  month,  on  the  first  Wednes- 
day, and  this  custom  became  permanent. 

Upon  request  of  the  Bohemian  Sharpshooters 
permission  was  given  to  them  to  celebrate  the  un- 
veiling of  Procop  Houdek  Monument  on  June  3. 

On  August  1  it  was  resolved  to  make  it  a  rule 
to  cover  the  graves  only  with  sod,  because  the  stone- 
borders  fell  to  pieces  after  a  few  years  and  presented 
a  very  bad  appearance.  The  same  rule  had  been 
adopted  by  all  of  the  other  cemeteries  in  Chicago. 

The  annual  celebration  met  with  great  success. 
The  procession,  v/ith  George  Sindelar  as  Marshall, 
marched  through  the  city  to  the  depot.  The  receipts 
were  $3,433.58;  disbursements  $1,819.49;  net  pro- 
ceeds $1,614.09,  from  which  the  Boh.-English  Freeth. 
School  received  $175.00,  Matice  Skolska  in  Chicago 
$125.00,  Klacel  School  $78.00,  Northwestern  Boh. 
School  $78.00,  Matice  Skolska  in  Bohemia  $78.00. 

On  December  5  the  Association  was  requested  to 
send  a  delegate  to  the  committee  for  the  erection  of 
a  monument  to  the  Civil  War  Veterans  at  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Cemetery.  Jos.  Kostner  was  appoint- 
ed to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  committee  and  to 
make  reports. 

The  receipts  for  this  semester  were  $8,208.45; 
disbursements  $6,546.49;  36  lots  sold;  318  burials, 
of  which  6  were  free  of  charge. 

The  only  new  member  admitted  in  1888  was  Ob- 
cansky  Rad  No.  28,  with  Maurice  Halek  and  Vac. 
Krai  as  delegates.  (These  delegates  were  later  suc- 
ceeded by  Vac.  Malecek  and  Fr.  Vlach.) 

New  delegates  in  1888:  Jifi  Washington  Lodge 
— Vojt.  Sedlacek;  Rip  Lodge — J.  V.  Matejka  (suc- 
ceeded by  J.  Peroutka  and  after  Peroutka's  death  by 
Jan  Nechvatal)  and  Fr.  Lahvic;  Garfield  Lodge — 
Jos.  Krupicka  and  M.  Nosek;  Vernost  Lodge — J.  Ja- 
vurek  (succeeded  by  John  Prochazka)  and  Fr.  Ka- 
lina;  Osveta  Lodge — Vac.  Kudrle  and  Jos.  Becvaf; 
Lincoln  Lodj^e — Aug.  Geringer;  Fire  Aid  Society — 
Mat.  Silhanek;  Boh.  Amer.  Sokol — Vojt.  Janecek  and 
Vojt.  Churan  (succeeded  by  Fr.  Kaspar)  ;  Otakar 
Lodge,  K.  P. — Fr.  Kubu  ;  Vysehrad  Lodge — Vac.  Lu- 
kes and  Fr.  Capouch ;  Boh.  Sharpshooters — John  Zeit- 

44 


hamer  and  Vac.  Kodrout,  later  Jos.  Hospes;  Obc. 
ftad  No.  2 — Vac.  Kapoun;  Ceska  Koruna  Lodge — Jos. 
Kraus  (succeeded  by  Fr.  Kaspar)  ;  Praha  Lodge — 
Vac.  Topinka;  Mor.  Slav.  Benev.  Society — Fr.  Kratky; 
Vratislav  Lodge — Vac.  Kabat;  Pokrok  Lodge — John 
Spillar. 

1889 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  10  acres 
were  purchased.  The  real  estate  of  the  Cemetery 
was  valued  at  $35,303.50;  movable  property  at 
$6,145.00;  total  $41,498.50.  During  the  past  year 
there  were  600  burials  of  which  17  were  free  of 
charge;  83  lots  were  sold. 

On  February  6  the  statute  amendment  by  which 
the  stone-borders  around  the  lots  were  prohibited  in 
all  new  sections  was  accepted  on  the  third  reading. 
Further,  by  31  votes  against  11,  the  transfer  of  meet- 
ings to  the  Boh.-Engl.  Freeth.  School  on  18th  St. 
was  accepted. 

On  March  6  the  treasurer  was  instructed  to  pay 
$6,000.00  to  Jeanne  and  Thomas  Conway  for  the  new- 
ly purchased  10  acres. 

On  April  3  a  committee  was  elected  to  draft  all 
necessary  statute  amendments:  J.  B.  Nikodem,  Fr. 
Mencl,  Fr.  Hess,  Fr.   Macek  and  John  Vojta. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  held  on  May  1,  Jos.  Hla- 
dovec  was  elected  President;  John  Kfiz,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; Fr.  Ring,  Rec.  Secretary;  Thom.  Kosatka,  Fin. 
Secretary;  Vac.  Visa,  Treasurer;  Jos.  A.  Smejkal, 
Jos.  Sindelaf  and  Jos.  Hora,  Board  of  Trustees;  Fr. 
Hess,  Cemetery  Superintendent.  The  financial  re- 
port for  the  entire  past  year  was  as  follows;  receipts, 
$15,618.98;  disbursements,  $14,358.28.  There  were 
263  burials,  of  which  8  were  free  of  charge. 

Matice  Skolska  in  Prague  sent  a  diploma  of 
honorary  membership  which  was  framed. 

$50.00  was  donated  on  July  3  for  relief  of  miners 
at  Coal  City  and  Sufferanceville. 

The  annual  celebration  on  July  28  was  held  in 
connection  with  the  celebration  of  the  laying  of  the 
corner  stone  for  the  Bohemian  Civil  War  Veterans 
Monument.      The    American    attendance     was     large. 

45 


The  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  Sons  of  Vet- 
erans took  part  at  this  manifestation,  and  the  bonds 
between  Bohemians  and  their  American  fellow-citi- 
zens were  considerably  stren^hened.  George  Sinde- 
laf  was  the  marshall;  Jos.  Cermak,  editor  of  the 
Daily  Svornost  and  author  of  a  History  of  the  Civil 
War  in  the  Bohemian  language,  was  the  speaker  of 
the  day;  attorney  Kraus,  Col.  J.  H.  Southworth  and 
Vac.  Kaspar  were  speakers  in  the  garden.  More 
than  100  documents  were  sealed  into  the  corner  stone 
by  various  societies.  It  was  also  resolved  to  express 
thanks  to  Capt.  E.  R.  Lewis  for  his  effective  support. 
Receipts  were  $3,857.25;  disbursements,  $2,126.03; 
from  the  net  proceeds  ($1,731.22)  one  half,  $865.61, 
w^as  donated  to  the  monument  fund. 

On  August  7  new  sections  of  the  Cemetery  were 
opened.  $20.00  was  sent  to  the  flood  sufferers  in 
Bohemia.  On  October  2  a  donation  of  $25.00  was 
made  to  the  16th  Vv^ard  School.  On  December  4 
Christmas  tree  donations  were  made:  $25.00  to  the 
18th  Street  School  and  $15.00  each  to  Maticni,  Klacel 
and  Northwestern  Schools. 

New  members  admited  in  1889  were:  Jan  2izka 
Lodge  No.  1  J.  T.  (Vac.  Matas  and  J.  L.  Dvorak,  dele- 
gates) ;  Prokop  Veliky  Lodge  No.  3  J.  T.  (Vac.  Sedlak 
and  Jos.  Dubsky,  delegates)  ;  Jan  Hus  Lodge  No.  2 
J.  T.  (Jos.  Kosatka  and  John  Wilfort)  ;  Obcansky 
Rad  No.  8  (John  Tauchen  and  Jos.  Fronek,  succeed- 
ed by  Theo.  Smidl,  delegates)  ;  Klacel  Court  No.  84 
I.  O.  O.  F.  (John  Kfiz  and  Vac.  Paara,  delegates), 
all  with  $50.00  admission  fees. 

Changes  in  delegates  were :  Vysehrad  Lodge — 
Fr.  Marousek,  succeeded  by  John  Pecha;  Garfield 
Lodge — Vac.  Nekola  and  Jos.  Baeumel ;  Jif  i  Pode- 
bradsky  Lodge — L.  Cerny  and  V.  Budilovsky;  Vaclav 
Obc.  Rad — J.  Jedlicka,  succeeded  by  Jos.  Lahvic; 
Jifi  Washington  Lodge — Mat.  Papez;  Rip  Lodge — 
Jos.  Sindelaf;  Boh.  Amer.  Sokol — Jos.  Hladovec  and 
J.  V.  Matejka;  Pravda  Lodge — J.  B.  Nikodem  and 
Fr.  Hess;  Ceska  Koruna  Lodge — Mat.  Hahn  and  Mat. 
Benes,  succeeded  by  Fr.  Valvoda;  Vratislav  Lodge — 
Fr.  Drasal;  Rovnost  Lodge — Fr.  Hrejsa;  Ces.-Del. 
Lodge — Jos.   Vranek;    Fire   Aid   Society — Jos.    Cinkl; 

46 


Svobodna  Obec — Ant.  Smrz;  Palacky  Lodge  I.  O.  O. 
F. —  Jos.  Matousek;  Praha  Lodge  L  O.  O.  F. — Jos. 
Jurka  and  V.  Topinka,  succeeded  by  Jos.  Novak;  Ota- 
kar  Lodge,  K.  P. — Jos.  Vodicka ;  Osveta  Lodge — Mat. 
Tanzer;  Obcansky  Rad  No.  2 — Jan  Zika;  Boh.  Sharp- 
shooters— Ad.  Cerny;  Pokrok  Lodge — Fr.   Masa. 


1890 

Prices  in  the  new  section  at  Klacel  Monument 
were  fixed  as  follows :  four  corner  lots  near  the 
monument,  $150.00  each,  other  lots,  75,  65,  60  and  55 
dollars,  according  to  location.  The  gardener's  salary 
was  raised  to  $50.00  a  month. 

The  annual  report  showed  that  there  was  a  to- 
tal of  5,176  dead  buried  in  the  cemetery  and  994  lots 
sold  (during  the  last  year  there  were  625  burials, 
of  which  17  were  free  of  charge;  104  lots  were  sold 
for  $7,000). 

The  entire  property  was  valued  at  $57,471.00. 

On  March  5  the  Board  of  Trustees  submitted  the 
plans  for  new  sections  and  roads  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  cemetery,  drafted  by  Messrs.  Greeley  and  Carl- 
son, engineers. 

On  May  7  the  annual  meeting  was  held.  Jos. 
Matousek  was  elected  President;  John  Kfiz,  Vice- 
President;  Fr.  Ring,  Rec.  Secretary;  John  J.  Vojta, 
Fin.  Secretary;  Jos.  Babka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  A.  Smej- 
kal,  Jos.  Hora  and  Jos.  Sindelaf,  Board  of  Trustees; 
Fr.  Hess,  Cemetery  Superintendent.  The  salaries 
were  raised  as  follows:  Financial  Secretary  $150.00, 
members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  $3.00  for  each  trip 
to  the  cemetery  and  $25.00  a  year  for  time  losses 
due  to  negotiations  in  the  city.  The  treasurer  was  in- 
structed not  to  keep  more  cash  than  $5,000.00  on 
hand  and  to  remit  any  money  in  excess  of  this  amount 
to  the  Board  of  Trustees  who  would  deposit  it  at  in- 
terest. The  Association  consisted  of  35  societies  with 
70  delegates;  in  case  of  12  societies  the  50-dollar  ad- 
mission fees  were  still  in  the  hands  of  the  Associa- 
tion to  be  returned  after  the  expiration  of  5  years. 
Debts  for  lots  sold  totalled  $6,557.30.  Mr.  Benes's 
plan  for  a  green-house  annex  was  approved. 

47 


On  June  18  a  special  meeting  approved  several 
statute  amendments.  The  most  important  were :  New 
members  were  to  pay  a  $100.00  admission  fee  which 
was  non-returnable.  Amounts  to  be  used  for  other 
purposes  than  those  of  the  cemetery  could  be  voted 
upon  only  if  two  thirds  of  the  delegates  present  ap- 
proved of  the  proposed  subscriptions. 

The  net  proceeds  from  the  annual  celebration 
were  $2,224.73. 

On  August  6,  upon  request  of  the  Boh.  Engl. 
Freeth.  School  Patronage,  a  loan  of  $1500.00  for  6 
months  at  6%  was  voted.  On  October  1  two  dona- 
tions were  made :  $25.00  to  the  Boh.  Engl.  School 
and  $50.00  for  flood  sufferers  in  Bohemia  in  the  care 
of  Mr.  Vojta  Naprste'k. 

New  member  admitted:  Cesky  Lev  Court  No. 
24  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Jos.  Babka  and  Jos.  Soller,  later  suc- 
ceeded by  Phil.  Cesal,  delegates. 

New  delegates  were:  Otakar  Lodge,  K.  P. — Fr. 
Kvapil;  Osveta  Lodge — Chas.  Synek;  Vysehrad 
Lodge — Jos.  Becvaf  and  Fr.  Vales;  Obc.  Rad  No.  2 — 
Vojt.  Morava;  Vaclav  Obc.  Rad  No.  23 — Jos.  Hru- 
bec;  Mor.  Slav.  Ben.  Society — Jos.  Komorous  and 
Mart.  Krauskruber,  the  first  followed  by  Fr.  Kopfi- 
va  and  both  followed  by  John  Hospes  and  Jos.  Vra- 
nek;  Pravda  Lodge — J.  V.  Matejka,  followed  by  Fr. 
Hess;  Ces.-Nar.  Lodge — Chas.  Flemr;  Sokol  Gymn. 
Assn. — Stan.  J.  Halik;  Lodge  No.  8  CSPO. — J.  Mar- 
tinek;  Klacel  Court — John  Krtezius;  Jan  Hus  Lodge 
J.  T. — Fr.  Kovafik;  Rovnost  Lodge — Libor  Poslusny; 
Praha  Lodge — Jos.  F.  Kohout,  followed  by  Vac.  To- 
pinka;  Svob.  Obec — L.  W.  Kadlec;  Ceska  Koruna 
Lodge — John  Suda;  Jifi  Podebradsky  Lodge — Mat. 
Tyk;  Palacky  Lodge  lOOF. — Fr.  Fucik;  Prokop  Ve- 
liky  Lodge  J.  T. — Jos.  Kundrat. 


1891 

According  to  the  financial  report  for  1890  the 
gardener's  receipts  were  $5,179.39  and  expenditures 
$3,382.60.  There  were  700  burials,  of  which  27  were 
free    of   charge.      The    total    number   of   buried    was 

48 


5,881.  Total  lots  sold  were  1,113  (in  the  past  year 
121  lots  were  sold  for  $7,380). 

On  March  4  Fr.  Mencl  was  appointed  delegate 
to  the  Bohemian  Veterans   Monument  committee. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  recommended  the  open- 
ing of  a  new  section  with  a  provision  that  nothing 
should  be  sold  there  until  all  lots  in  the  older  sec- 
tions were  sold. 

On  April  1  it  was  reported  that  the  debts  for 
lots  sold  still  amounted  to  $7,608.00  and  for  grave 
decorations  $151.40.  The  financial  secretary  was 
instructed  to  send  notices  to  the  debtors. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  6  Vaclav  Matas 
was  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  Fr. 
Ring,  Rec.  Secretary;  Stan.  J.  Halik,  Fin.  Secretary; 
Jos.  Babka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  Jurka  and  Jos.  Sindelaf, 
Board  of  Trustees;  Jos.  Kostner,  Cemetery  Superin- 
tendent. The  latter  received  a  badge  which  enabled 
him  to  visit  other  Chicago  cemeteries  to  study  their 
management.  The  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed 
to  buy  bonds  for  $3,000.00  and  to  look  for  additional 
land. 

The  annual  celebration  on  July  26  brought  44 
railroad  cars  of  excursionists  to  the  cemetery.  The 
net  proceeds  were  $1,944.79. 

On  Septemer  2,  the  Civil  War  Veterans  commit- 
tee reported  that  $1,500.00  was  wanting  to  the  full 
price  of  the  monument  and  the  Association  was  asked 
to  donate  this  amount.  A  committee  of  three,  Ma- 
tousek,  Kostner  and  Fucik,  was  elected  and  upon  its 
recommendation  the  Association  voted  that  amount 
on  November  4. 

On  August  18  a  tour  of  inspection  of  all  mem- 
bers of  the  Association  was  held  for  the  purpose  of 
a  thorough  inspection  of  the  cemetery  and  to  give 
an  opportunity  to  the  members  to  disclose  their  opin- 
ions and  to  find  what  could  be  improved.  The  fares 
and  refreshments  were  paid  for  from  the  treasury. 
40  delegates  were  present. 

On  December  2  the  following  donations  were 
made:  Matice  Skolska  in  Chicago,  $10.00;  the 
Grand  Lodge  C.  S.  P.  S.  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  $6.00 
worth   of  flowers   for  the   National    Committee    cele- 

49 


bration;  poor  children  in  Bohemian  schools,  $100.00, 
($20.00  to  each  of  five  schools). 

New  delegates  in  this  year  were:  Sokol  Gymn. 
Assn. — Fr.  Mencl;  Boh.  Amer.  Sokol — J.  V.  Matejka 
and  J.  Hladovec;  Vernost  Lodge — John  Forst  and 
Wm.  Vogel;  Praha  Lodge — John  Brejcha;  Jungmann 
Lodge — John  Hora;  Jifi  Podebradsky  Lodge — Vac. 
Kolaf  and  Jos.  Kerner;  Jifi  Washington  Lodge — Fr. 
Smola;  Garfield  Lodge — Vac.  Vaska  and  J.  Tupy, 
the  latter  followed  by  Proc.  Vitek;  Prokop  Veliky 
Lodge  J.  T. — Jos.  Kundrat  and  Vac.  Sedlak;  Boh. 
Sharpshooters — Fr.  Sima  and  Jos.  Chylek;  Vaclav 
Obc.  Rad  No.  23— Fr.  Kalina,  followed  by  Fr.  Bau- 
dys,  and  Jos.  Bradac;  Svob.  Obec — Vojt.  Vofisek 
and  Chas.  Svoboda;  Jan  Zizka  Lodge  J.  T. — John 
Dvorak  and  John  Zika;  Klacel  Court — Jos.  Benes; 
Obc.  Rad  No.  28 — Jos.  Cimbura  and  John  Svoboda; 
Otakar  Lodge,  K.  P. — Wm.  Kosa;  Vratislav  Lodge — 
Mat.  Kolaf  and  Jos.  Turek. 


1892 

On  January  6  it  was  resolved  to  return  the  50- 
dollar  admission  fees  to  the  seven  remaining  societies 
which  had  not  yet  received  them.  A  donation  of 
$20.00  was  made  to  Matice  Skolska  in  Bohemia. 

On  February  3  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
that  there  was  no  possibility  of  buying  any  more  land 
for  the  cemetery,  because  this  land  was  within  the 
city  limits  and  could  not  be  used  for  cemetery  pur- 
poses. 

During  the  year  1891,  185  lots  were  sold;  there 
were  865  burials,  of  which  29  were  free  of  charge. 
The  real  estate  of  the  Cemetery  was  valued  at 
$75,574.00,  cash  and  bonds  were  $10,145.73,  making 
the  total  $85,609.73. 

On  April  6  $25.00  was  donated  to  the  National 
Committee.  It  was  resolved  to  start  new  books,  install 
a  correct  commercial  bookkeeping  system  and  hire  a 
capable  bookkeeper  at  least  for  the  summer  months 
for  a  salary  of  $50.00   a   month. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  4  Vac.  Matas 
was  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  Jos. 

50 


Becvaf,  Rec.  Secretary;  Stan.  J.  Halik,  Fin.  Secretary; 
Jos.  Babka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  Sindelaf  and  Fr.  Fucik, 
Board  of  Trustees;  Jos.  Kostner,  Cemetery  Superin- 
tendent. Twelve  applications  for  bookkeeper  were 
received;  the  lowest  offer  by  E.  A.  Haase  for  $40.00 
a  month  was  accepted,  and  he  began  to  work  on 
April  23. 

The  celebration  of  the  unveiling  of  the  Bohemian 
Veterans'  Monument  was  held  on  May  29.  It  was 
the  greatest  patriotic  manifestation  by  Bohemians  of 
Chicago  up  to  that  time,  and  all  American  dailies 
had  detailed  reports  next  morning,  with  pictures  and 
full  texts  of  speeches.  All  Freethinker  Societies 
marched  in  the  procession  with  banners  and  bands, 
and  a  prominent  place  in  the  procession  was  reserved 
for  the  veterans  of  the  Grand  Army  of  Republic  and 
for  the  Sons  of  Veterans.  The  procession  was  led 
by  the  marshall,  W.  Stuchlik;  E.  R.  Lewis  was  the 
Grand  Marshall,  Jos.  Sindelaf  and  A.  J.  Miks  were  in 
his  staff  (Sindelaf  led  the  Bohemian  division,  A.  J. 
Miks  led  the  division  of  the  veterans)  and  Petr  Hand, 
Fr.  Stejskal,  H.  J.  Lehman  and  J.  C.  Barker  were 
adjutants.  Near  the  veiled  monument  at  the  ceme- 
tery Mayor  Carter  H.  Harrison,  William  S.  Elliot,  L. 
W.  Kadlec,  Jos.  Cermak,  Ed.  Harlan,  commander  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  Illinois,  the  historian  Robert  H. 
Vickers  and  the  members  of  the  Cemetery  committee 
awaited  the  procession. 

About  200  school  children  sang  the  anthem 
''America",  Miss  Albina  Stejskal,  in  behalf  of  the 
Singing  Society,  presented  the  officers  of  the  Ceme- 
tery with  a  big  American  banner,  for  which  Jos.  Kost- 
ner expressed  thanks.  The  president  of  the  Cemetery, 
Jos.  Matousek,  made  the  introductory  speech  in  which 
he  declared:  *'We  are  Americans  and  love  this  new 
country  not  only  with  words,  but  with  deeds,  as  this 
monument  proves."  The  Grand  Marshall,  Lewis,  was 
the  English  speaker  of  the  day,  his  theme  being  ''This 
is  the  day  of  brotherhood,"  and  after  his  speech  the 
monument  was  unveiled  by  John  Schultz,  son  of  the 
Bohemian  veteran  Frank  Schultz.  Vaclav  Kaspar, 
in  behalf  of  the  Monument  Committee,  dedicated  the 
monument  to  the  Bohemian  National   Cemetery,   and 

51 


after  a  short  reply  by  V.  Matas,  Jos.  Cermak,  editor 
of  the  Daily  Svornost  and  the  Bohemian  speaker  of 
the  day,  spoke,  followed  by  Mayor  Harrison,  W.  S. 
Elliott  and  Commander  Harlan.  The  Ladies'  Society 
Vlasta  No.  2,  today  Vlasta  Lodge  No.  9  S.  P.  J.,  do- 
nated a  beautiful  golden  emblem  to  that  member  of 
the  Monument  Committee  who  deserved  the  great- 
est merit,  and  the  emblem  was  presented  by  Mrs. 
Marie  Slapak,  president  of  the  Vlasta  Society,  and 
by  Mrs.  Uhlif  to  Mr.  Fr.  Schultz.  The  Bohemian 
ladies  also  dedicated  on  this  occasion  a  splendid 
American  banner  to  the  Cemetery  Association  which 
uses  it  at  celebrations  to  this  day. 

On  June  1  Jos.  Jurka  resigned  on  account  of 
his  trip  to  Bohemia  and  Jos.  A.  Smejkal  was  elected 
his  successor  on  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

On  July  7  the  recording  secretary  was  instructed 
to  draft  a  memorial  for  the  foundation  stone  of  the 
Plzefisky  Sokol  building. — It  was  reported  that  the 
cost  of  the  Veterans'  Monument  was  $5,035.00,  the 
committee  collected  $3,490.00,  earned  $824.00;  and 
the  amount  to  be  supplied  by  the  Bohemian  Cemetery 
was  $720.40.  The  report  was  approved  and  all  bills 
settled. 

The  annual  celebration  on  July  31  met  with  an 
extraordinary  success.  Five  trains  brought  big 
crowds  to  the  cemetery.  The  weather  was  unusually 
fine.  Jos.  Sindelaf  was  again  marshall  of  the  proces- 
sion.    The   net  proceeds  were   $1,265.78. 

In  September  E.  A.  Haase  resigned  as  bookkeep- 
er and  F.  Mencl  as  Vice-President.  Jos.  Hora  was 
elected   Vice-President. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  No- 
vember 13  and  reporters  from  the  Bohemian  news- 
papers were  invited.  Improvements  recommended  by 
the  delegates  at  this  occasion  were :  new  gate,  new 
fence,  new  house  for  the  gardener,  new  road  for 
freight  wagons  and  other  minor  suggestions. 

On  December  7,  it  was  resolved  to  build  a  new 
gate  and  to  begin  work  on  it  in  the  spring.  $100.00 
was  donated  to  the  Bohemian  schools,  $25.00  to  each. 

Sokol  Gymn.  Association  and  Boh.  Amer.  Sokol 
merged  into  Slovanska  Lipa  Association  and  as  a  new 

52 


society  were  admited  on  August  3,  with  St.  J.  Halik 
and  Al.  E.  Kapsa  as  delegates. 

New  delegates  this  year  were :  Boh.  Amer.  So- 
kol — A.  M.  Kapsa  and  Jos.  Dvorak;  Vernost  Lodge — 
John  Novak ;  Lincoln  Lodge — Ant.  Dvorak ;  Jifi  Wash- 
ington Lodge — Vojt.  Matousek  and  Ant.  Kryzan; 
Oarfield  Lodge — Vac.  Nekola  and  Vac.  Vaska;  Ce- 
ska  Koruna  Lodge — Fr.  Aulicky  and  John  Suda;  Ob- 
cansky  Rad  No.  2 — Fr.  Riedl  and  Jos.  Plachetka, 
the  latter  followed  by  Vac.  Opat;  Vaclav  Obc.  Rad 
— Jos.  Hrubec;  Boh.  Sharpshooters — John  Stropni- 
cky,  later  Adolf  Cerny  and  Fr.  Suchy;  Klacel  Court — 
Mat.  Rolenc,  followed  by  Chas.  Vesely,  and  Fr.  Te- 
saf;  Prokop  Veliky  Lodge  J.  T. — John  Pecha;  Pra- 
ha  Lodge  lOOF. — Emil  Hambachr;  Jan  Zizka  Lodge 
J.  T.— Ed.  Sichra;  Ces.-Nar.  Lodge — Mart.  Wolf; 
Pravda  Lodge — Em.  A.  Haase;  Svob.  Obec — Jos.  Bra- 
za  and  Ant.  Smrz,  later  Chas.  Censky  and  John  Bam- 
l)ula;  Vratislav  Lodge — Mat.  Kolaf  and  Vac.  Hejda- 
nek;  Vysehrad  Lodge — Jos.  Becvaf  and  Vac.  Pelikan; 
Ces.-Del.  Lodge — Fr.  Vranek  and  Jos.  Vranek. 


1893 

The  annual  report  showed  that  in  the  past  year 
there  were  850  burials  of  which  30  were  free  of 
charge;  178  lots  were  sold  for  $1,330. 

On  March  1  the  design  for  a  new  gate  by  archi- 
tect Kfivanek  was  approved. — The  Jefferson  Electric 
Street  Railway  asked  for  signatures  to  its  petition  for 
the  right  of  way  for  its  line  passing  near  the  ceme- 
tery. It  was  agreed  to  comply  with  this  request. — 
The  National  C.  S.  P.  S.  Supreme  Lodge  asked  the 
Association  to  send  a  delegate  to  a  public  meeting, 
concerning  the  erection  of  a  Bohemian  Orphans'  or 
Old  Peoples'  Asylum.  The  Association  answered  that, 
being  itself  a  body  consisting  only  of  delegates  of 
other  societies,  it  could  not  send  such  a  delegate, 
but  that  it  would  support  such  an  institution  as  much 
as  possible. 

On  April  5  the  Bohemian  Veterans'  Monument 
Committee  submitted  a  request  that  the  Association 
should   take    charge    of   the    Memorial    Day    Celebra- 

53 


tion.  This  matter  was  referred  to  the  Board  of  Trus« 
tees. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  3  Jos.  Hora  was 
elected  President;  Vac.  Matas,  Vice-President;  Fr. 
Ring,  Rec.  Secretary;  St^  J.  Halik,  Fin.  Secretary;  J. 
Babka,  Treasurer;  J.  A.  Smejkal  and  Fr.  Fucik,  Board 
of  Trustees;   Jos.  Kostner,   Cemetery  Superintendent. 

On  June  7  $50.00  was  donated  to  the  new  Klacel 
School  Building. 

The  salary  of  the  gardener,  Mr.  Ine,  was  raised 
to  $75.00  a  month. 

The  annual  celebration  on  July  30  brought  4 
trains  and  44  cars  to  the  cemetery.  The  net  proceeds 
were   $1,165.05. 

On  August  2  flowers  for  the  welcome  of  guests 
from  Bohemia  were  donated,  and  on  Sept.  6  the  bill 
for  flowers  for  the  Sokol  float  on  the  Bohemian  Day 
at  the  World's  Fair  was  cancelled.  On  November  1 
a  wreath  was  voted  for  the  funeral  of  the  deceased 
friend   of   Chicago   Bohemians,    Mayor   Harrison. 

On  December  6  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
that  several  new  improvements  were  finished:  new 
gate  and  house  for  $15,179.30,  new  barn  for 
$1,118.54,  new  fence  for  $345.00.  $100.00  was  do- 
nated for  Christmas  celebrations  to  4  Bohemian 
schools. 

During  this  year  144  lots  were  sold  for  $11,185. 
There  were  819  burials.  The  real  estate  of  the  ceme- 
tery was  valued  at  $98,918.00. 

New  delegates  in  1893  were:  Prokop  Veliky 
Lodge  J.  T. — Ant.  Chmelik  and  J.  G.  Panoch;  Vaclav 
Obc.  Rad — ^Jos.  Hrubec  and  Jos.  Bradac;  Mor.  Slav. 
Ben.  Society — Jos.  Vranek,  followed  by  Jac.  Pfepej- 
chal,  and  John  Hospes;  Lincoln  Lodge — Jos.  Wolf 
and  Thom.  Kosatka;  Klacel  Court — John  Krtezius 
and  John  Kfivanek;  Jungmann  Lodge — Jos.  Hora  and 
Jos.  Najemnik;  Praha  Lodge  lOOF. — Em.  Hamba- 
cher;  Praha  Lodge  CSPS. — John  Kfiz  and  John  Brej- 
cha,  followed  by  Jos.  Hladovec;  Cesky  Lev  Court — 
M.  Kalal  and  Phil.  Cesal;  Vernost  Lodge — Fr.  Mend 
and  John  Novak,  followed  by  Jos.  Cedik;  Jan  2izka 
Lodge  J.  T. — Ed.  Sichra  and  Vas.  Matas;  Jan  Hus 
Lodge    J.    T. — John    Fiser;     Ces-.Nar.    Lodge — Vac. 

54 


Trumpich,  followed  by  Chas.  Tremer  who  again  was 
succeeded  by  Mat.  Salava;  Pravda  Lodge — J.  V.  Be- 
nes;  Obc.  Rad  No.  2 —  Mart.  Fuxa;  Rip  Lodge — 
Chas.  Llbal;  Ceska  Koruna  Lodge — F.  Hlavin  and 
Jos.  Moravec;  Obc.  Rad  No.  28— Fr.  Vlach;  Fire  Aid 
Society — Mat.  Hanzlik;  Boh.  Sharpshooters — Jos.  Ku- 
bicek;   Vysehrad  Lodge — Jos.   Mandl   and   Jos.   Raus. 


1894 

On  January  7  it  was  reported  that  the  insurance 
was  increased  to  $7,000.00. 

On  April  4  $15.00  worth  of  flowers  was  donated 
to  the  Boh.  Engl.  School  at  Town  of  Lake  for  the 
celebration  of  its  opening. 

On  May  2  the  annual  meeting  was  held.  Jos. 
Hora  was  elected  President;  Ant.  Chmelik,  Vice-Pres- 
ident; Fr.  Ring,  Rec.  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treas- 
urer; Vac.  Matas  and  Jos.  Sindelaf,  Board  of  Trus- 
tees. On  May  16  Jos.  Spiegelhauer  (Zrcadlovsky) 
was  appointed  bookkeeper,  on  account  of  his  exper- 
ience at  the  cemetery  at  Manitowoc,  Wis.,  and  a  new 
office  was  opened  for  him  at  the  hall  of  Mr.  Pechota 
on  18th  St. 

On  June  6  it  was  resolved  to  decorate  the  gate 
with  a  memorial  tablet  with  the  names  of  the  origi- 
nal founders  of  the  cemetery:  Jos.  Matousek,  Jos. 
Dostal,  Fr.  Bedlan,   M.  Polacek  and  Vojt.  Freml. 

The  annual  celebration  on  July  29  met  with  fine 
success  notwithstanding  the  financial  crisis  from 
Avhich  workingmen  and  business  men  suffered  very 
badly.  The  net  proceeds  were  $637.19  of  which  one 
third  had  been  promised  to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home. 

On  September  5  president  Jos.  Hora  was  elected 
delegate  to  the  Committee  for  the  Ethnographic  Ex- 
position in  Prague  and  Fr.  Pechota  was  elected  dele- 
gate to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  committee. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  began  the  work  on  the 
pond.  This  was  to  be  400  feet  long  and  80  feet  wide 
and  a  new  section  was  to  be  filled  with  the  soil 
hauled  out. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  took  place  on  Sun- 
day, October  7.     Eighteen  delegates  were  present. 

55 


A  check  for  $212.90  for  the  Bohemian  Old  Peo- 
ples' Home  was  issued.  $25.00  worth  of  flowers  was 
donated  to  the  Klacel  School  and  $10.00  worth  to 
the  Ladies'  Committee  for  the  Matice  Skolska  bazaar. 
$100.00  for  Christmas  was  donated  to  five  Bohemian 
schools. 

St.  J.  Halik  was  instructed  to  write  a  short  his- 
tory of  the  Association  for  the  Ethnographic  Exposi- 
tion in  Prague. 

Two  members  dropped  off:  Obcansky  Had  No. 
28  disbanded  and  Vaclav  Obc.  Rad  No.  3  merged 
with  the  Ces.-Delnicky  Lodge.  New  delegates:  Ver- 
ost  Lodge — John  Forst  and  Fr.  Mencl;  Jifi  Podebrad- 
sky  Lodge — Jos.  Drznicek  and  John  Stropnicky ;  Osve- 
ta  Lodge — Ign.  Kutta  and  Vojt.  Janecek;  Pravda 
Lodge — Jos.  Zarobsky;  Lincoln  Lodge — Jos.  Pavlik; 
Jifi  Washington  Lodge — Ign.  Schultz,  followed  by 
Vac.  Kratochvil,  and  Ant.  Kryzan;  Ces.-Del.  Lodge 
J.  T. — John  Kadlec;  Boh.  Sharpshooters — Fr.  Sima; 
Fire  Aid  Society — Vac.  Topinka;  Prokop  Veliky 
Lodge  J.  T. — Phil.  Cesal;  Otakar  Lodge,  K.  P. — M.  R. 
Hfebik;  Klacel  Court — Vac.  Minafik;  Palacky  Lodge 
— F.  J.  Pechota;  Praha  Lodge — John  Kuttan;  Rov- 
nost  Lodge — John  Dolezal;  Obc.  Had  No.  8 — Dav. 
Mach;  Vysehrad  Lodge — Jos.  Hosek,  succeeded  by 
Jos.  Skala  and  Fr.  Capouch;  Ceska  Koruna  Lodge — 
Fr.  Komorous. 


1895 

On  January  2  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
the  rear  gate  finished.  It  was  resolved  that  every  lot 
purchaser  pay  one  third  of  the  price  at  time  of  the 
purchase,  and  that  all  lot  debtors  pay  6%  interest  on 
the  amount  due. 

In  1894  according  to  the  annual  report  there 
were  953  burials  (among  them  67  free  of  charge) 
and  106  lots  were  sold  for  $8,388.00. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  gave  an  order  for  a  large 
map  of  the  cemetery  to  the  surveyor,  Mr.  Pavlicek, 
who  presented  the  same  on  June  5.  The  cost  was 
$300.00,  and  it  was  resolved  to  make  several  blue 
prints  for  all  cemetery  offices. 

56 


On  March  6  it  was  resolved  to  comply  with  the 
request  of  the  committee  for  the  Ethnographic  Expo- 
sition in  Prague  and  to  take  pictures  of  various  views 
of  the  cemetery  as  well  as  a  group  picture  of  the  dele- 
gates. 

On  April  3  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
it  was  necessary  to  open  a  new  section  near  the  Vete- 
rans' Monument. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  1  Fr.  Mencl  was 
elected  President;  St.  J.  Halik,  Vice-President;  Jos. 
Vaska,  Rec.  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  A. 
Smejkal,  Fr.  Fucik  and  M.  Wolf,  Board  of  Trustees. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  submitted  the  20-year 
History  of  the  Cemetery,  written  by  F.  B.  Zdrubek. 
The  names  selected  for  the  main  roads  were  as  fol- 
lows (beginning  from  the  north)  :  1,  Komensky;  2, 
Klacel;  3,  Hus;  4,  National;  5,  Havlicek;  6,  Beach. 
The  name  of  the  road  east  from  the  Veterans'  Monu- 
ment was  to  be  Bohemian-American  Veterans'  Road. 
The  roads  from  the  north  to  the  south,  beginning  from 
Crav^ord  Avenue,  were  to  be  numbered. 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  on  June  24,  the  offer 
of  the  Boh.  Engl.  School  at  18th  St.  was  accepted. 
The  Association  was  to  have  its  office  there  for 
$10.00  a  month.  Joseph  Spousta  was  elected  Finan- 
cial Secretary. 

At  the  annual  tour  of  inspection,  held  on  Sep- 
tember 22,  special  attention  was  given  to  the  vault 
for  the  storage  of  the  dead. 

At  the  meeting  of  November  6  an  expression  of 
sympathy  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  grave-digger, 
Jos.  Lahvic,  was  voted,  and  his  son,  Jos.  A.  Lahvic, 
was  intrusted  with  the  duties  of  his  father.  The 
bookkeeping  was  given  to  the  financial  secretary  who 
had  to  move  to  the  cemetery. 

It  was  reported  that  the  artesian  well  was  in 
such  a  condition  that  any  attempt  to  repair  it  would 
be  hopeless.  Therefore  it  appeared  necessary  to  build 
a  water-house.  The  plans  were  submitted  at  the 
meeting  of  December  4  and  approved.  $100.00  was 
given  to  the  Bohemian  schools  for  Christmas.  The 
semi-annual  report  was:  receipts,  $19,495:17;  dis- 
bursements, $8,178.34;  cash  balance,   $11,316.83.     It 

57 


was  resolved  to  buy  bonds  for  $10,000.00.  When 
that  was  done,  the  Association  owned  the  following' 
bonds:  City  of  Chicago,  $5,000.00;  United  States 
$4,350.00;  Village  of  Evanston,  $2,000.00,  and  Chica- 
go Water  Bonds,  $10,000.00. 

In  this  semester  51  lots  were  sold  for  $4,849.00. 
There  were  510  burials,  18  free  of  charge. 

New  delegates  in  1895  were:  Praha  Lodge  I.  O. 
O.  F. — Ign.  Vavfinek,  followed  by  Jar.  Lenoch;  Lin- 
coln Lodge — Mat.  Kozisek  and  Jos.  2orna ;  Jifi  Wash- 
ington Lodge — Mart.  Rezny  and  Jos.  Rada;  Cesky 
Lev  Court — V.  Bartuska;  Jan  Zizka  Lodge  J.  T. — 
H.  Suesmilich  and  Ant.  Cermak;  Svob.  Obec — Jos. 
Spiegelhauer  and  Al.  Vafioucek;  Palacky  Lodge — Fr. 
Fucik;  Klacel  Court — Fr.  Brouk  and  Ant.  Fingl ;  Po- 
krok  Lodge — John  Havlice;  Ces.  Koruna  Lodge — 
John  Suda  and  F.  J.  Pechota. 


1896 

On  January  8  $20.00  was  donated  to  the  Freeth. 
Sunday  School   of   Matice   Skolska  Ladies'   Auxiliary. 

The  report  showed  that  to  the  end  of  1895  a 
total  of  1,786  lots  had  been  sold.  From  the  begin- 
ning  10,544  burials  were  made. 

On  March  6  the  vice-president,  St.  J.  Halik,  re- 
signed from  his  office  as  well  as  from  the  member- 
ship in  the  Association.  The  Board  of  Trustees  re- 
ported that  a  fountain  for  $328.00   was  ordered. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  March  25  an  amendment 
to  the  charter,  prepared  by  attorneys  Jones  and 
Lusk,  and  cancelling  the  use  of  the  surplus  and  profit 
of  the  Association  for  educational  and  similar  pur- 
poses, was  unanimously  approved  by  27  members 
present.  The  reason  for  this  change  was  that  the 
annual  celebrations  bringing  a  considerable  profit 
were  discontinued  and  the  Association  was  obliged 
to  save  to  the  utmost  and  to  use  all  profits  only  for 
the  improvement  and  decoration  of  the  cemetery. 

On  April  1  it  was  resolved  to  start  a  reserve 
fund.  $15,000.00  were  put  aside  for  this  purpose 
immediately,  the  interest  was  to  be  added  as  well  as 
20  per  cent  from  every  lot  sale,  until  the  fund  would 

58 


reach  the  amount  of  $40,000.00.  Such  an  amount 
was  never  to  be  drawn  upon,  and  only  the  interest 
from  it  was  to  be  used  for  decorations  and  improve- 
ments of  the  cemetery.  This  resolution  was  unani- 
mous. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  6  Fr.  Mencl  was 
elected  President;  John  Kfiz,  Vice-President;  Fr. 
Ring,  Rec.  Secretary;  Jos.  Spousta,  Fin.  Secretary; 
Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Fr.  Fucik  and  Mart.  Wolf, 
Board  of  Trustees.  The  Recording  Secretai-y  was  to 
receive  $25.00  a  year  as  salary. 

In  June  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  the 
old  green-houses  could  not  be  repaired  any  more  and 
that  it  would  be  necessary  to  build  new  wooden 
green-houses,  together  with  a  proper  building  for  the 
gardener's  office.  It  was  recommended  that  the  city 
office  be  given  up  as  unnecessary. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  Sep- 
tember 27. 

At  the  meeting  of  November  4  it  was  reported 
that  the  cost  of  new  green-houses  and  gardener's  of- 
fice was  $5,624.55. 

The  financial  secretary  J.  Spousta  was  removed 
from  office  on  account  of  malversations,  but  the 
amount  of  $198.19,  which  was  found  missing,  was 
paid  up  by  his  guarantors  on  June  2,  1897,  and  this 
unpleasant  affair  settled  definitely. 

The  office  of  the  financial  secretary  was  moved 
from  the  gate  to  the  new  gardener's  house. 

$100.00  was  donated  for  Christmas  celebrations 
to  the  Bohemian  Freeth.  schools. 

New  delegates  in  1896  were:  Osveta  Lodge — 
John  Slabihoud;  Rip  Lodge — Fr.  Feujan;  Pokrok 
Lodge — John  Havlice ;  Lincoln  Lodge — John  Kosat- 
ka;  Klacel  Court — Vojt.  Sedlacek  and  John  Dusek; 
Jan  2izka  Lodge  J.  T. — Ant.  Zarobsky;  Garfield 
Lodge — Chas.  Sramek,  succeeded  by  Vac.  Nekola; 
Prokop  Velky  Lodge  J.  T. — Jos.  Filip ;  Sokol  Slov. 
Lipa — John  Vanek;  Vernost  Lodge — John  Forst; 
Praha  Lodge  lOOF. — Vac.  Horacek;  Rovnost  Lodge 
— J.  Dolezal;  Vysehrad  Lodge — Fr.  Capouch ;  Jan 
Hus  Lodge  J.  T. — Jos.  Sinkule;  Otakar  Lodge,  K.  P. 
— B.   C.   Legros. 

59 


1897 

At  a  special  meeting  held  January  27  a  new 
financial  secretary  was  elected  to  succeed  J.  Spousta. 
From  among  30  candidates  at  the  fourth  ballot  Fr. 
Husak  received  26  votes  of  49  present. 

The  buildings  of  the  cemetery  were  insured  for 
$3,400.00  for  five  years. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  5  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  J.  Kfiz,  Vice-President;  J. 
Filip,  Rec.  Secretary;  F.  Husak,  Fin.  Secretary;  J» 
Jurka,  Treasurer;  J.  Sindelaf  and  J.  A.  SmejkaU 
Board   of  Trustees. 

On  June  2  the  first  section  adjoining  the  pond 
was  opened.  Because  of  the  fact  that  many  people 
of  other  nationalities  buried  their  dead  in  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Cemetery  on  account  of  the  low  price 
of  graves,  it  was  resolved  that  the  old  prices  would 
be  valid  only  for  Bohemians  and  that  the  price  for 
other  nationalities  would  be  increased  from  7  to  15 
dollars. 

The  trouble  about  the  artesian  well  was  settled 
at  a  special  meeting  of  July  22.  It  was  resolved  to 
follow  the  advice  of  experts  and  to  sink  it  over  2,000 
feet.  Finally,  at  the  depth  of  2,160  feet,  sufficient 
water  was  found,  75  gallons  a  minute. 

The  old  vault  had  become  insufficient  and  obsolete, 
and  on  July  7  the  Association  therefore  resolved  ta 
build  a  new  one.  It  was  found  that  there  was  no 
better  place  in  the  cemetery  than  that  of  the  old 
vault,  but  that  it  would  be  necessary  to  buy  three 
neighboring  lots  for  the  new  building.  This  matter 
was  settled  satisfactorily  by  the  statement  of  the 
owners  of  these  three  lots  that  they  were  willing  to 
exchange  them  for  other  lots.  A  special  committee, 
consisting  of  president  Pecha,  secretary  Filip,  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Trustees  Sindelaf,  Smejkal  and 
Fucik  and  of  three  specially  elected  members,  H. 
Kutta,  Rud.  Kapsa  and  V.  Kolaf,  submitted  a  de- 
tailed report  which  recommended  the  building  of  a 
modern  two  story  tomb,  with  a  ground-floor  where 
150  to  160  dead  bodies  could  be  stored  in  winter  and 
during  hard  frosts  and  with  a  large  hall  for  funeral 
ceremonies  on  the  upper  floor.     The  plans  submitted 

60 


by  Mr.  J.  V.  Benes  were  approved  and  the  work  of 
building  started. 

On  September  1  it  was  resolved  to  amend  the 
statutes  to  conform  with  the  changes  in  the  charter 
and  all  other  resolutions  passed  in  the  meeting.  A 
committee  was  elected  to  draft  the  amendments  (Jos. 
A.  Smejkal,  Vac.  Kolaf  and  John  Pecha). 

At  the  meeting  of  October  6  a  letter  from  the 
lawyer,  Mr.  Charles  D.  Lusk,  was  read  calling  the 
attention  of  the  Association  to  the  sad  end  of  Robert 
H.  Vickers.  This  great  friend  of  the  Bohemian  na- 
tion, author  of  ''History  of  Bohemia,"  the  first  story 
of  th^  Bohemian  nation  in  English,  a  splendid  orator 
whose  speech  at  the  Comenius  Tercentenary,  held  at 
the  Central  Music  Hall  on  March  30,  1892,  would 
never  be  forgoten,  since  its  masterly  pathos  saved  the 
situation  after  a  painful  fiasco  of  the  other  speaker, 
Ignatius  Donnelly,  who  knew  so  little  about  the  Bohe- 
mian nation — this  man  of  great  merit  died  in  dejec- 
tion and  poverty.  His  colleagues  had  to  pay  the 
funeral  costs  and  provide  a  grave  at  Forest  Home 
where  Vickers  now  reposed  forgotten.  Mr.  Lusk 
therefore  asked  the  Association  to  transfer  Vicker's 
body  to  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  and  to 
bury  it  there  in  a  grave  which  would  be  marked  with 
a  tablet  carrying  the  inscription:  "Here  reposes 
Vickers,  English  author  of  the  History  of  Bohemia." 
The  letter  so  impressed  all  the  delegates  that  they 
resolved  without  any  debate  to  comply  with  this  re- 
quest. Vickers  was  buried  in  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery  on  October  17,  1897,  and  the  above  tablet 
reminds  all  passers-by  to  render  homage  to  the  great 
Czechophile. 

On  December  1  $110.00  was  donated  to  11  Bo- 
hemian schools. 

New  delegates  in  1897  were:  Boh.  Sharpshoot- 
ers— Fr.  Mudroch  and  John  Mraz;  Praha  Lodge — 
Jos.  Cunat;  Pravda  Lodge — Rud.  Kapsa;  Lincoln 
Lodge — Jos.  Valentin  and  Ant.  Radlicka;  Garfield 
Lodge — Chas.  Sramek,  succeeded  by  Jos.  Kubik,  and 
Vac.  Vaska;  Klacel  Court — Chas.  Vittmer  and  John 
Dusek;  Jiri  Washington  Lodge — Fr.  Ort;  Ceska  Ko- 
runa  Lodge — Ferd.  Svoboda;  Sokol  Slov.  Lipa — Jac. 

61 


Hrodej;   Praha  Lodge  lOOF. — Chas.  Novak;   Otakar 
Lodge,   K.   P. — Fr.   Holub   and   Ant.   Vopat. 


1898 

On  New  Year's  the  office  of  the  National  Ceme- 
tery was  moved  to  the  new  gardener's  building. 

On  March  2  it  was  resolved  to  erect  a  big  water- 
tank  in  the  water-house  to  distill  the  water  and  make 
it  soft,  because  the  water  from  the  artesian  well  was 
too  hard  and  not  suitable  for  flowers,  especially  roses. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  4  John  Pecha 
was  reelected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President; 
Jos.  Filip,  Rec.  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos. 
Sindelaf,  Jos.  Smejkal  and  Fr.  Fucik,  Board  of  Trus- 
tees; Fr.  Stejskal,  Vojt.  Sedlacek  and  Jos.  Matousek, 
Financial  Committee.  Fr.  Husak  was  reelected  Finan- 
cial Secretary,  Leo  Ine,  gardener,  and  Jos.  Lahvic, 
grave-digger. 

The  entire  property  of  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery  represented  $170,803.02  (bonds,  $26,350.00; 
inventory,  $131,723.00;  debts  for  lots,  $5,000.00; 
grave   decoration   reserve,    $1,250.00). 

The  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  secure 
a  Bohemian  and  an  English  speaker  and  to  ask  the 
Bohemian-American  Girls'  Society  to  render  suitable 
songs  at  the  Memorial  Day  Celebration. 

It  was  resolved  to  issue  identification  cards  to 
the  lot  owners  and  other  responsible  persons  for  ad- 
mittance to  the  cemetery  on  Sundays  to  stop  the  dis- 
gracing of  the  cemetery  by  undesirable  people. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  on  August  30  was 
marred  by  bad  weather. 

$200.00  was  donated  to  12  Bohemian  Freeth. 
Schools  for  Christmas. 

The  Fire  Aid  Society,  one  of  the  charter  members 
of  the  Association,  disbanded,  and  its  delegates,  Vac. 
Topinka  and  Rud.  Soukup,  were  released  from  the 
attendance  of  meetings  from   March  2  on. 

New  delegates  this  year  were :  Osveta  Lodge — 
Fr.  Knytl ;  Jan  Hus  Lodge  J.  T. — Vac.  Ryba  and  Jos. 
Sinkule;  Lincoln  Lodge — Vac.  Sticha;  Garfield  Lodge 
— Jos.    Kroc;    Jiff   Washington   Lodge — Fr.    Ort,   fol- 

62 


lowed  by  Chas.  Raus;  Rip  Lodge — J.  J.  Vojta;  Mor. 
Slav.  Ben.  Society — John  Komeraus  and  Jos.  Dobry; 
Ces.  Delnicky  Lodge — John  Benes  and  John  Cesak, 
succeeded  by  Vac.  Topinka  and  Chas.  Benda;  Vyse- 
hrad  Lodge — Jos.  Skala  and  Jos.  Fiala ;  Narodni 
Lodge — Vac.  Trumpich,  folowed  by  Fr.  Duha  and 
Aug.  Burian;  Rovnost  Lodge — Fr.  Stejskal;  Jan  2iz- 
ka  Lodge  J.  T. — Ant.  Charvat;  Vysehrad  Lodge — Fr. 
Capouch;  Ceska  Koruna  Lodge — Jar.  Vitek;  Otakar 
Lodge,  K.  P. — Fr.  Milsic;  Svobodna  Obec — John  Sta- 
yer and  Miss  Marie  Zeman. 

1899 

On  January  4  the  Association  voted  an  expres- 
sion of  sympathy  to  the  family  of  Joseph  Matousek, 
who  died  December  23,  1898.  A  committee  of  three, 
Fr.  Stejskal,  J.  A.  Smejkal  and  John  V.  Benes,  was 
instructed  to  draft  it  and  have  it  published  in  all  Bohe- 
mian papers.  Jos.  Matousek  was  sent  by  the  Fire 
Aid  Society  to  the  original  committee  which  gave 
birth  to  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion on  February  12,  1877.  In  this  society  the  idea 
of  a  Bohemian  cemetery  originated.  On  February 
26,  1877,  Matousek  was  elected  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee for  the  drafting  of  the  first  statutes  of  the 
Association.  He  was  elected  President  of  the  Associa- 
tion eleven  times;  1878-1886,  1888  and  1890. 

On  February  1  a  wreath  of  flowers  was  donated 
to  the  Klacel  School  Patronage  for  the  KlaceFs  Birth- 
day Celebi:ation  on  April  9.  As  usual  after  the  cele- 
bration the  wreath  was  sent  to  Belle  Plaine,  la.,  to 
be  laid  upon  the  grave  of  Ladimir  Klacel. 

On  May  3  the  annual  meeting  was  held.  John 
Pecha  was  reelected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; Jos.  Filip,  Rec.  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treas- 
urer; Jos.  Sindelar,  Fr.  Fucik  and  Jos.  A.  Smejkal, 
Board  of  Trustees;  Jos.  Hora,  Fr.  Stejskal  and  Ferd. 
Svoboda,  Financial  Committee.  The  financial  secre- 
tary Husak  was  reelected  and  his  salary  increased 
to  $60.00  a  month.  Additional  paragraphs  contain- 
ing the  rules  for  the  new  chapel-Vault,  prepared  by 
a  special  committee  (Fr.  Ring,  Mat.  Sikyta  and  J.  A. 
Smejkal),   were  inserted  into  the  statutes. 

63 


The  Memorial  Day  Celebration  was  held  on  May 
30.  The  English  address  was  delivered  by  Judge 
Ebresold,  the  Bohemian  address  by  Prof.  Boh.  Simek 
of  the  University  of  Iowa. 

On  March  31  the  entire  property  of  the  Ceme- 
tery amounted  to  $180,802.04  (inventory  $142,427.75, 
bonds  $29,500.00,  cash  $2,987.90;  debts  for  lots,  etc., 
$5,836.39).  There  were  2,033  lots  sold  and  13,420 
bodies  buried.  The  cemetery  had  an  area  of  50 
acres.  Of  these  20  acres  were  sold,  20  were  re- 
served for  use  and  10  covered  by  buildings.  There 
were  still  1,462  lots  for  sale  and  about  8  acres  for 
rows  which  guaranteed  sufficient  space  for  burials 
for  the  next  18  to  20  years. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  Sep- 
tember 13.  This  day  the  building  committee  (Jos. 
Babka,  chairman,  Jos.  Filip,  secretary,  Fr.  Fucik,  J.  A. 
Smejkal,  Jos.  Sindelaf,  John  Pecha,  Chas.  Novak  and 
V.  Kolaf)  officially  dedicated  the  new  Chapel-Vault 
to  its  purpose.  The  final  cost  was  $10,864.34.  Sin- 
cere thanks  were  expressed  by  the  Association  to  the 
chairman,  Mr.  Babka,  and  all  other  members  of  the 
committee  for  their  strenuous  and  unselfish  services. 

On  October  4  the  death  of  the  grave-digger  Lah- 
vic  was  reported. 

On  December  6  $200.00  was  donated  to  12  Bo- 
hemian Freeth.  Schools. 

New  delegates  this  year  were:  Pravda  Lodge — 
A.  Jifikovsky  and  Jos.  Benes;  Garfield  Lodge — P. 
Prazak,  succeeded  by  Jos.  Kubik,  and  J.  B.  Suster; 
Lincoln  Lodge — Tom.  Lupac;  Jifi  Washington  Lodge 
— Jos.  Srachta;  Mor.  Slav.  Ben.  Society — John  Svec, 
followed  by  Fr.  Kratky,  and  Fr.  Bubrle ;  Klacel  Court 
— Fr.  Liska;  Praha  Lodge — Vojt.  Bartuska;  Cesky 
Lev  Court — Phil.  Cesal;  Boh.  Sharpshooters — Jos. 
Chylka;  Palacky  Lodge  lOOF.— Mat.  Sikyta;  Jan 
Zizka  J.  T. — Ign.  Suesmilich  ;  Vysehrad  Lodge — Jos. 
Becvar;  Sokol  Slov.  Lipa — Jos.  Kostner;  Osveta  Lodge 
— John  Vysoky;  Jungmann  Lodge — Vac.  Nekola. 


64 


F.  B.  ZDRUBEK 


Co-founder   of   the    Boh,    Nat.    Cemetery    and    author    of 
its  first  ''History." 


Monument    of    Ladimir    Klacel 

Philosopher   and   Free    Thought   pioneer 


Civil    War    Veterans    Monument 


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Spanish   War    Veterans    Monument 


1900 

On  February  7  P>.  Stejskal  and  Jos.  Hora  re- 
signed from  the  financial  committee  and  Vac.  Kolaf 
and  Jos.  Kostner  were  elected  to  fill  their  places. 

The  president,  John  Pecha,  was  instructed  to  ex- 
plain to  a  new  C.  S.  P.  S.  club,  which  wanted  to  as- 
sume the  name  of  Robert  H.  Vickers,  and  requested 
such  information — what  R.  H.  Vicker's  merits  with 
regard  to  the  Bohemian  nation  were. 

On  April  4  complaints  were  presented  that  Mr. 
Laziiovsky  had  started  the  erection  of  a  dance  hall 
almost  opposite  the  entrance  to  the  cemetery.  This 
if  allowed  would  be  a  disgrace.  The  committee  was 
instructed  to  enter  into  negotiations  with  Mr.  Laziiov- 
sky, and  in  case  of  his  refusal,  to  go  to  law. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  2  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  Fr. 
Ring,  Rec.  Secretary;  Fr.  Husak,  Fin.  Secretary;  Jos. 
Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  A.  Smejkal,  Fr.  Vytlacil  and 
Jos.  Sindelaf,  Board  of  Trustees;  Jos.  Kostner,  J.  Bec- 
var  and  Vac.  Kolaf,  Financial  Committee;  Leo  Ine, 
gardener. 

On  June  6  a  letter  of  the  Straz  Osvojenych  was 
read  which  pleaded  in  favor  of  the  modern  burials 
by  cremation.  This  matter  was  referred  to  the  Board 
of  Trustees. — It  was  resolved  to  sell  lots  in  the  new- 
ly opened  section  for  $120  to  $150  with  exception  of 
corner  lots  and  to  open  another  section  with  cheaper 
lots,  for  $60  to  $100. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  set  for  August 
26. 

On  July  11  an  expression  of  sympathy  for  the 
family  of  the  deceased  Joseph  Najemnrk,  a  delegate 
for  many  years,  was  voted  and  on  this  occasion  also, 
the  rules  on  how  to  honor  the  deceased  delegates 
were  approved. 

On  August  1  the  women  delegates  of  the  Sester- 
ska  Podporujici  Jednota  visited  the  cemetery  and 
were  accompanied  by  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

A.  J.  Smejkal  reported  that  he  had  inspected 
the  Graceland  Crematory  which  was  built  in  1893  for 
$4,000.00.     From  the  beginning  to  the   end   of  June 

65 


of  this  year  610  bodies  were  cremated  there.  The 
fee  was  $25.00,  the  expense  of  the  crematory  $10.00. 
After  a  lengthy  debate  this  matter  was  postponed. 

It  was  recommended  to  open  a  new  section  near 
the   Boh.-Amer.   Veterans'    Monument, 

On  October  3  four  Bohemian  lodges  and  next 
month  seven  other  lodges  sent  complaints  that  clamor- 
ous picnics  were  held  in  gardens  situated  close  to 
the  cemetery.  The  secretary  was  instructed  to  send 
a  written  request  to  all  societies  represented  in  the 
Association  not  to  hold  picnics  in  the  neighborhod  of 
the  cemetery  and  to  help   keep   order. 

The  board  of  Trustees  asked  for  authorization 
to  buy  10  adjacent  acres.  Approval  was  given,  and 
in  December  the  board  reported  that  10  acres  were 
bought  from  Mr.  Lange,  at  $750.00  an  acre. 

$200.00  was  donated  to  12  Bohemian  schools. 

It  was  resolved  to  give  an  order  for  a  portrait 
of  the  deceased  Jos.  Matousek  to  the  well-known 
artist,  Mrs.  Koupal-Lusk.  $100.00  was  voted  for  this 
purpose. 

New  delegates  this  year  were:  Ces.  Lev  Court — 
Fr.  Vytlacil;  Vysehrad  Lodge — Vac.  Bambula;  Ver- 
nost  Lodge — Ign.  Plechaty;  Jifi  Washington  Lodge — 
Chas.  Raus;  Klacel  Court — Vac.  Brouk,  succeeded  by 
Vac.  Koutnik;  Lincoln  Lodge — V.  Pospisil;  Ces.-Na- 
rodni  Lodge — Mart.  Wolf;  Jan  2izka  Lodge  J.  T. — 
John  Vodak;  Pravda  Lodge — John  Pfibyl;  Vratislav 
Lodge — Vac.  Hejdanek;  Ceska  Koruna  Lodge — F.  J. 
Pechota;  Jungmann  Lodge — Fr.  Novak. 


1901 

On  January  2  an  amendment  of  the  statutes  w^as 
accepted  unanimously  upon  motion  of  J.  Kostner. 
The  change  provided  that  the  business  year  would 
begin   on   January   1    and   end   on   December  31. 

Upon  motion  of  J.  A.  Smejkal  it  was  resolved  to 
permit  no  flowers  be  brought  in  from  the  outside 
and  planted  upon  graves  of  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery,  in  view  of  the  present  arrangement  that 
watering  and  mowing  of  grass  was  done  free  of 
charge. 

66 


On  March  6  new  rules  for  the  Memorial  Day  cele- 
brations recommended  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  were 
approved.  To  honor  the  memory  of  Bohemian  vet- 
erans of  the  Civil  and  Spanish  Wars  the  Board  was 
authorized  to  make  all  preliminary  preparations,  to 
invite  speakers  and  military  and  other  societies,  as 
well  as  to  procure  a  band  and  all  necessary  decora- 
tions. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  1  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  Jos. 
Filip,  Rec.  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  Sin- 
delaf  and  Fr.  Vytlacil,  Board  of  Trustees;  Jos.  Bec- 
var,  Fr.  Stejskal  and  Vac.  Kolaf,  Financial  Commit- 
tee;  Fr.   Husak,   bookkeeper;   Leo  Ine,   gardener. 

On  June  5  the  Bohemian  Old  Peoples'  Home  As- 
sociation submitted  a  request  for  a  $15,000  loan.  It 
sold  its  property  at  Bensonville  and  bought  another 
one  near  the  cemetery  from  Mr.  A.  Pergler.  After 
a  thorough  debate  the  loan  was  granted  at  4  percent 
interest  for  5  years,  guaranteed  by  first  mortgage. 

Jos.  Matousek's  portrait  v/as  placed  in  the  office 
of  the  bookkeeper. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  took  place  on  Au- 
gust 18. 

On  November  6  the  Board  of  Trustees  submitted 
plans  for  the  rebuilding  of  the  water-house  for  about 
$1,659.00. 

Upon  motion  of  J.  A.  Smejkal,  $300.00  was  do- 
nated to  twelve  Bohemian  Freethought  schools  and 
the  monthly,  ''Svobodna  Skola."  The  amount  was  di- 
vided according  to  the  number  of  pupils  in  each 
school,  from  $16.00  to  $40.00.  Jos.  Kostner  donated 
his  first  yearly  salary  of  $30.00  to  the  Matice  Skol- 
ska,  $15.00  to  the  one  in  Chicago  and  $15.00  to  the 
one  in  Prague. 

New  delegates  this  year  were :  Ces.-Narodni 
Lodge — Jos.  Husak,  followed  by  Fr.  Hrdlicka;  Klacel 
Court — Fr.  J.  Tesaf  and  Fr.  Siska;  Mor.  Slav.  Ben. 
Society — Buberle  and  John  Hospes;  Vratislav  Lodge 
— Dr.  Drasal ;  Lincoln  Lodge — Mat.  Kozisek ;  Garfield 
Lodge — Otto  Rychtafik;  Boh.  Sharpshooters — Jos. 
Mraz;  Otakar  Lodge,  K.  P. — Jos.  Rothbauer;  Vernost 
Lodge — Ant.  Petr;  Svob.  Obec — Vac.  Kehak. 

67 


1902— THE  YEAR  OF  THE  TWENTY-FIFTH 
ANNIVERSARY 

On  January  8  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
that  the  insurance  was  increased  to  $4,500.00.  The 
Board  was  instructed  to  submit  suggestions  for  the 
celebration  of  the  jubilee  of  the  Association  due  this 
year  on  April   11. 

On  February  5  it  was  resolved  to  publish  the  his- 
tory of  the  first  25  years  of  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery. 

On  March  5  the  memory  of  the  deceased  mem- 
ber of  the  Association  and  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
Joseph  Sindelaf,  was  honored  by  a  resolution,  a  copy 
of  which  was  sent  to  the  family. 

A  special  committee,  V.  Topinka,  J.  V.  Benes  and 
Fr.  Ring,  was  elected  to  help  the  Board  of  Trustees  in 
the  publication  of  the  history  of  the  Cemetery. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  7  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President; 
Jos.  Filip,  Rec.  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos. 
Smejkal,  Jos.  Kostner  and  Mat.  Sikyta,  Board  of 
Trustees;  Becvaf,  Vytlacil  and  Benes,  Financial  Com- 
mittee. 

The  request  of  several  well  known  citizens  that 
F.  Vonasek,  a  Catholic  who  had  always  used  abusive 
language  when  he  talked  about  Freethinkers,  be 
buried  free  of  charge  in  the  Bohemian  National  Ceme- 
tery, because  the  Catholics  denied  permission  for  his 
burial  in  the   Catholic  cemetery,   was  approved. 

According  to  the  financial  statement  the  property 
of  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  on  December  31, 
1901,  aru.ounted  to  $232,748.17  (cash,  $4,243.37; 
bonds,  $69,000.00;  inventory,  $154,491.30,  and  debts 
for  lots  and  grave  decoration  $5,013.50).  The  area 
of  the  cemetery  was  60  acres  with  3,740  lots,  of 
which  2,374  were  sold  and  1,366  for  sale.  The  total 
receipts  of  the  Association  from  the  beginning  to  Dec. 
31,  1901,  were  $452,241.18,  the  disbursements,  $447,- 
997.81. 

The  Memorial  Day  celebration  was  a  huge  suc- 
cess. The  attendance  was  enormous.  The  Bohemian  ad- 
dress was  delivered  by  Leo  J.  Palda  of  Cedar  Rapids, 
la.;  the  English  address  by  attorney  W.  S.  Elliot,  Jr. 

68 


On  June  4  the  Board  of  Trustees  submitted  a 
new  scale  by  which  the  wages  of  workingmen  em- 
ployed by  the  cemetery  were  increased.  They  were 
divided  into  three  classes:  first  class  (skilled  men), 
$2.00  a  day;  second  class,  $1.75,  and  third  class, 
$1.50,  for  a  10-hour  work-day.  Further  salary  recom- 
mendations were :  Gardener-Superintendent,  $90.00 
a  month;  bookkeeper,  $70.00  a  month,  and  treasurer, 
$50.00  a  year.  All  these  recommendations  were  ap- 
proved. Only  the  treasurer's  salary  remained  un- 
changed, $30.00  per  year,  because  Jos.  Jurka  declared 
that  he  was  satisfied  with  this  amount. 

On  July  2  it  was  resolved  that  anybody  who 
got  permission  to  bury  a  body  in  a  lot  not  belonging 
to  him  had  to  present  the  written  permission  of  the 
owner  of  the  lot  and  the  so-called  "deed"  at  the 
office  of  the   cemetery. 

At  the  meeting  of  August  6  the  first  step  was 
made  which  led  later  to  the  erection  of  the  first  Bohe- 
mian crematorium  in  the  world.  The  Bohemian- 
American  Cremation  Society  founded  on  May  26, 
1901,  in  Chicago  asked  for  the  election  of  a  commit- 
tee which  would  attend  the  meetings  of  the  society 
and  take  part  in  its  deliberations.  After  a  lengthy 
debate  such  a  committee  was  elected:  J.  A.  Smejkal, 
V.  Rehak  and  Fr.  J.  Pechota. 

The  Jubilee  Celebration  was  combined  with  the 
annual  visitation  on  August  31.  Jos.  Kostner,  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  delivered  a  summary 
statement  summing  up  all  the  important  facts  of  the 
first  25  years  of  the  Bohemian  National   Cemetery. 

The  best  illustration  of  changed  conditions  are 
the  following  figures:  in  the  first  six  months  of  the 
cemetery,  November,  1877  to  April,  1878,  there  were 
67  burials  for  which  $158.50  was  paid.  In  the  same 
period  after  24  years,  November,  1901  to  April,  1902, 
there  were  414  burials  for  which  $1,604.00  was  paid. 
On  April  30,  1902,  the  last  burial  number  was  16,179. 

At  the  meeting  on  September  3  an  expression  of 
sympathy  to  the  family  of  John  V.  Benes  who  for 
many  years  was  superintendent  of  the  cemetery  and 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  was  voted. 

69 


An  order  for  5,000  bound  copies  of  "The  His- 
tory of  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  during  the 
first  25  years  of  its  existence"  by  F.  B.  Zdrubek,  was 
given  to  the  "Svornost"  for  $1,025. 

On  October  1  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
60  and  %  acres  of  land  north  of  the  cemetery  were 
bought  from  W.  Peterson  for  $60,000  and  that  the 
purchase  would  become  valid  in  six  weeks,  if  permis- 
sion for  the  extension  of  the  cemetery  would  be  ob- 
tained. 

On  November  5  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
that  an  announcement  was  inserted  in  Bohemian  pa- 
pers, stating  that  the  Association  was  about  to  accept 
loans  in  a  total  of  $60,000  from  Bohemian  societies 
and  individuals.  The  purpose  was  to  pay  for  the 
above  mentioned  60  acres  without  selling  any  bonds. 
Such  a  sale  would  have  meant  a  considerable  loss, 
because  the  prices  of  securities  were  low  on  account 
of  the  financial  depression.  The  decision  of  the 
Board  was  approved  and  it  was  resolved  to  pay  5 
percent  interest. 

On  December  3  it  was  reported  that  the  loans 
accepted  amounted  to  $56,220  and  that  the  60  acres 
purchased  were  paid  in  full. 

A  New  Year's  donation  of  $500.00  for  the  Bohe- 
mian Freethought  Schools  in  Chicago  was  approved, 
and  the  officers  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  were  in- 
structed to  distribute  that  amount  at  their  best  dis- 
cretion. 

A  long  debate  was  started  about  the  erection  of 
a  Bohemian  Crematory.  Fr.  J.  Pechota,  V.  Rehak, 
Ort  and  V.  Kolaf  advocated  the  idea  enthusiastically, 
and  finally  the  committee  was  instructed  to  submit 
a  more  definite  report. 

Upon  motion  of  Fr.  Ring  it  was  resolved  to  pro- 
vide the  grave  of  the  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brada, 
the  first  child  buried  in  the  cemetery,  with  a  memorial 
tablet,  to  cost  not  more  than  $50.00. 

A  new  map  of  the  cemetery  was  submitted  by 
August  Petrtyl. 

New  delegates  in  1902  were:  Czechoslovak 
Veterans  Society  "Marshall  Radecky"  (new  member) 
— Vojt.   Suchy   and   Ed.    Oberman;    Boh.    Sharpshoot- 

70 


ers — Ant.  Mraz;  Vernost  Lodge — Ant.  Petr;  Jifi 
Washington  Lodge — Fr.  Ort;  Ceska  Koruna  Lodge — 
John  Florian;  Jan  Hus  Lodge  J.  T. — John  Benes; 
Klacel  Court — Vac.  Paara  and  Fr.  Masek ;  Rip  Lodge 
— Vine.  Starman;  Cesko-Narodni  Lodge — T.  Meskan; 
Otakar  Lodge,  K.  P. — J.  Rothbauer;  Pravda  Lodge — 
J.  V.  Matejka. 


1903 

On  January  7  F.  J.  Pechota  was  elected  mem- 
ber of  the  financial  committee  to  fill  the  place  of  the 
deceased  J.  V.  Benes. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  6  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President; 
Jos.  J.  Filip,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  all 
unanimously.  F.  Kostner  and  Fr.  Vytlacil  were  elect- 
ed members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees;  J.  V.  Matejka, 
Jos.  Becvaf  and  Fr.  J.  Pechota,  members  of  the  Audit- 
ing Committee.  Fr.  Husak  was  reelected  as  bookkeep- 
er and  Leo  Ine  renamed  as  chief  gardener  and  super- 
intendent of  the  cemetery. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  a  new^  sec- 
tion. No.  12,  would  be  opened,  with  lots  14x17  selling 
for  $125  and  $133.  It  was  recommended  to  open  also 
a  section  for  people  of  less  means,  selling  6x12  lots 
for  $25. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  Au- 
gust  16. 

On  September  2  upon  motion  of  Vac.  Kolai*  and 
Fr  Stejskal  it  was  resolved  to  send  1,000  crowns  to 
flood  and  hail  sufferers  in  Bohemia  in  care  of  the 
daily  "Narodni  Listy"  in  Prague,  the  editors  of  which 
were  to  distribute  the  amount  among  the  worst  suf- 
ferers. 

The  extension  of  green-houses  was  approved. 
Jos.  A.  Smejkal  as  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
reported  that  he  had  succeeded  in  freeing  the  ceme- 
tery of  real  estate  taxes. 

At  the  meeting  of  October  7  the  delegates  John 
Pecha  and  J.  V.  Matejka  reported  that  the  Old 
Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  Association  had 
a  sum  on  hand   which   it  would   like  to  loan  to  the 

71 


Cemetery  Association  until  it  would  start  with  the 
building.  The  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  treasurer, 
J.  Jurka,  received  $4,000  as  a  4%   loan. 

On  November  4  it  was  resolved  that  the  house 
where  Mrs.  Lahvic  Jr.  still  lived  after  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Lahvic  Sr.  be  vacated  and  the  use  of  it  with  fuel 
be  given  to  the  bookkeeper,  Fr.  Husak,  from  New 
Year  on  as  an  addition  to  his  salary. 

At  the  meeting  of  December  2  the  New  Year's 
gift  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought  schools  was  in- 
creased to  $1,000.00  by  a  great  majority  of  votes. 
This  proof  of  a  rare  understanding  of  the  significance 
of  these  schools  for  our  national  and  society  life  was 
greeted  by  the  Bohemian  public  with  warm  satisfac- 
tion and  recognition.  The  officers  and  the  Board  of 
Trustees  were  authorized  to  distribute  the  amount. 
The  only  voice  of  disapproval  was  heard  from  the 
Otakar  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  which  sent  a  letter 
of  indignation  protesting  that  the  Association  could 
dare  to  donate  such  a  large  amount  to  the  Bohemian 
Freeth.  Schools.   The  letter  was  accepted  and  ignored. 

The  Bohemian  Slavonian  Association  in  Prague 
asked  for  a  directory  of  Bohemian  societies  of  Chi- 
cago. The  secretary  was  instructed  to  send  them  a 
list  as  complete  as  possible  and  also  the  "History  of 
the  Boh.  Nat.  Cemetery." 


1904 

To  the  meeting  of  January  6  Rev.  Leo  Pociechow- 
ski,  pastor  of  the  Independent  Polish  St.  Barbara 
Parish,  sent  a  letter  inquiring  whether  his  parishion- 
ers could  be  buried  in  the  Bohemian  National  Ceme- 
tery. The  bookkeeper  Husak  was  instructed  to  an- 
swer that  everybody  who  would  observe  the  rules  of 
the  cemetery  and  pay  the  fee  could  perform  burials 
in  this  cemetery. 

The  treasurer  of  the  Old  Peoples  Home  Associa- 
tion, Jos.  Bozovsky,  sent  another  check  for  $1,000.00 
asking  that  the  obligation  be  issued  for  the  total  of 
$5,000.00.  On  April  6  and  on  August  3  the  same 
treasurer  sent  again  checks  for  $1,000  each  as  tem- 
porary loans  to  the   Cemetery   Association. 

72 


At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  4  John  Pecha  was 
elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  J.  J. 
Filip,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  A.  Smej- 
kal  and  Vac.  Topinka,  Board  of  Trustees;  F.  J.  Pe- 
chota,  Thorn.  David  and  J.  V.  Matejka,  Auditing 
Committee. 

Garfield  Lodge  No.  90  C.  S.  P.  S.  sent  a  letter 
asking  the  Association  to  stop  in  the  future  all  such 
lamentable,  events  as  that  committed  by  the  Catho- 
lic Rev.  Pelikan  v^ho  in  his  funeral  speech  at  the 
Bohemian  cemetery  had  said:  **You  v^ill  repose  here 
in  God  while  the  other  dead  bodies  are  buried  here 
like  dogs  and  carrions!"  This  affair  was  ended  at 
July  meeting  by  a  declaration  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees that  that  gentleman  "did  not  behave  like  a  peace- 
able man  and  a  teacher  of  his  people,  but  like  a  par- 
tisan holding  in  contempt  those  who  were  not  in  his 
power."  The  secretary  was  instructed  to  write  a  let- 
ter to  Rev.  Pelikan  in  this  sense. 

On  June  1  a  resolution  of  sympathy  was  voted 
for  the  family  of  the  deceased  Vaclav  Kolaf  who  had 
been  a  delegate  to  the  Cemetery  Association  for  many 
years.  Ed.  Holy,  T.  David  and  Mat.  Kozisek  were 
elected  as  a  committee  to  draft  the  resolution. 

On  September  7  a  resolution  of  sympathy  drafted 
by  Jos.  F.  Plhak,  E.  Frydl  and  Ed.  Holy  was  voted 
to  the  family  of  the  deceased  delegate,  J.  V.  Matejka. 

Fr.  Vytlacil  having  resigned  from  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  Vac.  Kolacek  was  elected  in  his  stead. 

On  December  7  it  was  reported  that  a  new  sec- 
tion was  opened  with  single  grave  lots  for  $16.00 
and  eight  grave  lots  for  $80.00. 

The  contract  with  the  Chicago  Telephone  Com- 
pany was  renewed  from  January  1,  1905,  at  a  rate 
of  $135.00  a  year  for  1,200  calls. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  submitted  a  detailed  re- 
port of  the  status  of  the  Bohemian  Freethought 
Schols  in  Chicago.  There  were  12  such  schools  and 
2  singing  schools  with  1,600  boys  and  girls.  A  dona- 
tion of  $1,000.00  was  voted  for  them  and  the  Board 
of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  distribute  that  money. 
Upon  request  of  the  Straz  Osvojenych  and  upon  mo- 
tion  of  J.   A.   Smejkal   a   donation    of   $200.00    was 

73 


voted  for  the  Blue  Island  Ave.  Bohemian  Reading 
Room  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to 
buy  good  Bohemian  books  for  this  amount  and  to 
send  them  to  the  City  Public  Library  as  a  gift  for 
the  above  Reading  Room. 

In  consequence  of  reiterated  complaints  that 
flowers  were  torn  out  and  valuable  bouquets  and 
ribbons  were  stolen  from  graves  it  was  resolved  that 
everyone  caught  in  the  act  should  be  brought  to  the 
office  and  eventually  to  court.  Further  it  was  re- 
solved that  all  those  who  wished  to  take  bushes  or 
flowers  from  their  graves  in  order  to  winter  them  at 
home,  had  to  get  the  permission  from  the  cemetery 
superintendent  and  show  in  every  case  what  they 
were  taking  home. 


1905 

At  the  meeting  of  January  4  new  delegates  were 
initiated. 

A  special  committee  (J.  M.  Kralovec,  Jos.  Sin- 
kule,  Fr.  Fischer,  F.  J.  Pechota  and  Jac.  Hrodej) 
sent  to  the  Forest  Home  cemetery  to  see  how  a 
machine  for  digging  of  drainage  pipe  ditches  was 
working,  recommended  the  purchase  of  such  a  ma- 
chine from  Van  Buren,  Heck  &  Marvin  Company  at 
Findlay,  O.,  for  $1,500.00.  The  superintendent,  Ine, 
was  instructed  to  go  to  Findlay  to  purchase  one. 
The  same  was  delivered  in  the  first  part  of  June. 

A  long  debate  was  caused  by  the  question  of 
iDurials  of  poor  people.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  the 
benevolence  of  the  Association  had  been  often  mis- 
used it  was  resolved  that  in  the  future  each  under- 
taker must  pay  for  every  burial,  but  in  case  of  poor 
people  the  fee  would  be  returned  if  the  respective 
request  would  be  signed  by  at  least  five  trustworthy 
neighbors. 

The  Old  Peoples'  Home  Association  sent  a  fur- 
ther $1,000.00  to  the  account  of  the  temporary  loan 
to  the  Cemetery  Association.  The  total  loan  amount- 
ed in  July  to  $14,000.00. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  May  3  John  Pecha  was 
elected  President;  Fr.   Mencl,  Vice-President;  Jos.  J. 


Filip,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  all  of  them 
unanimously.  Vac.  Kolacek  and  Jos.  Kostner  were 
elected  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  Long- 
in  Tuma,  F.  J.  Pechota  and  Thom.  David,  members 
of  the  Auditing  Committee.  Fr.  Husak  was  reelected 
as  bookkeeper  and  L.  Ine  as  superintendent  and 
gardener. 

On  June  7  a  resolution  of  sympathy  was  voted 
for  the  family  of  the  deceased  secretary  Joseph  J. 
Filip.  The  resolution  was  drafted  by  a  special  com- 
mittee, Stejskal,  Friedl  and  Pitte.  As  a  temporary 
secretary  for  this  meeting  F.  J.  Ring  was  elected,  and 
at  the  end  of  the  meeting  Stan.  Halik  was  elected 
Secretary. 

On  August  2  a  new  member  was  accepted,  Robert 
H.  Vickers  Lodge  No.  63  C.  S.  P.  S.,  which  sent  J.  J. 
Krai  and  Chas.  Scheiner  as  its  delegates. 

On  September  6  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  the 
Secretary  were  instructed  to  publish  in  the  news- 
papers a  request  to  all  societies  whereby  they  were 
asked  not  to  allow  their  picnic  bands  to  play  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  cemetery  from  noon  to  2  P.  M.  on 
Sundays,  this  being  the  time  when  funerals  and  cere- 
monies took  place  in  the  cemetery. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  submit 
plans  for  modern  waiting  rooms  for  the  public  near 
the  gate  and  also  to  start  the  extension  of  homes  of 
the   gardener  and   bookkeeper   at   once. 

On  October  4  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
that  Mr.  Jens  Jensen,  a  prominent  horticultural  ex- 
pert and  superintendent  of  the  Chicago  West  Parks 
system,  was  invited  to  lay  out  the  newly  bought  60 
acres  so  that  the  cemetery  would  have  a  pleasing 
appearance  and  the  work  in  that  section  could  be 
started  as  soon  as  it  would  be  necessary. 

It  was  resolved  that  the  fee  for  deposition  of  an 
urn  with  ashes  be  $4.00  if  the  body  was  cremated  in 
the  Graceland  Cemetery  crematorium. 

At  the  meeting  of  December  6  a  donation  of 
$1,000.00  was  voted  for  the  Bohemian  Freethought 
Schools. 

It  was  resolved  to  establish  a  card  system  in  the 
office    to    make    the    finding    of    dates,    installments, 

75 


ownership  of  lots,  etc.,  easier  and  to  order  uniforms 
for  the  grave-diggers. 


1906 

At  the  meeting  of  March  7,  the  survey  made  by 
Mr.  Jens  Jensen  was  approved  and  the  bill  for  $600.00 
directed  paid. 

On  April  4  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  a  special 
committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Kralovec,  Waska, 
Stejskal,  Rehak  and  Bartusek,  recommended  the  plans 
submitted  by  the  architect  Rusy  for  the  gate  annex 
and  remodeling  of  the  gate.  The  cost  was  to  be 
about  $15,000.00. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  2  the  salary  of 
the  president  was  increased  to  $50.00  and  that  of 
the  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  $100.00 
each,  without  any  other  additional  pay.  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  St. 
Halik,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  A.  Smej- 
kal  and  J.  M.  Kralovec,  members  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees; F.  J.  Pechota,  Thom.  David  and  L.  Tuma,  mem- 
bers of  the  Auditing  Committee ;  Jos.  Kostner,  mem- 
ber of  the  Building  Committee  (instead  of  J.  M. 
Kralovec  who  resigned).  A  special  committe  was 
appointed  to  revise  and  amend  the  statutes:  Jos.  J. 
Krai,   R.  L.  Pitte   and  Stan.   Halik. 

On  June  6  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
the  Association  now  owned  various  good  bonds 
amounting  to  $100,000.00. 

On  August  1  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
the  50th  anniversary  of  the  death  of  Karel  Havlicek- 
Borovsky  who  died  on  July  29,  1856,  in  Prague,  was 
honored  by  a  special  flov/er  decoration  with  a  bust 
of  the  Bohemian  national  hero  and  martyr. 

On  November  6  the  contracts  for  the  new  gate 
were  approved.  The  total  cost  was  $13,677,  and 
besides  this  $250.00  was  paid  to  the  architect  Rusy 
for  his  services.  On  November  11  the  foundation- 
stone  was  laid  and  documents  with  names  of  officers 
and  delegates,  the  statutes,  the  History  of  the  ceme- 
tery, local  newspapers,  etc.,  were  sealed  into  it. 

76 


On  December  5  a  committee  of  the  Ceska  Straz, 
consisting  of  Messrs.  C.  G.  Foucek  and  Dr.  Semerak, 
appeared  before  the  meeting  and  asked  for  assign- 
ment of  a  place  for  the  Havlicek  monument.  The 
request  was  granted  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  au- 
thorized to  settle   all   details   with   the    Ceska   Straz. 

The  following  donations  were  voted:  $1,000.00 
for  the  Bohemian  Freethought  Schools  and  $50.00  for 
the  Czechoslav  Immigrants'  Home  in  Baltimore,   Md. 


1907 

On  February  6  an  invitation  to  the  Freethink- 
ers' Convention  was  accepted  and  Fr.  Mencl  and  St. 
J.  Halik  elected  as  delegates. 

A  delegation  of  the  Cremation  Association,  con- 
sisting of  Messrs.  Jos.  Bufiata,  Jos.  Hejno  and  Ant. 
Trefil,  appeared  before  the  meeting  and  submitted 
reasons  for  the  erection  of  a  crematorium  at  the  ceme- 
tery. The  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  keep 
the  realization  of  this  idea  in  mind. 

On  March  6  a  donation  of  $50.00  for  the  Free- 
thinkers' Convention  was  approved. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  May  1  John  Pecha  was 
elected  President;  Chas.  Kopecky,  Vice-President; 
St.  J.  Halik,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  V.  Ko- 
lacek  and  J.  M.  Kralovec,  members  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees;  and  F.  J.  Pechota,  L.  Tuma  and  Th.  David, 
members  of  th6  Auditing  Committee. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  V.  J.  Luiiak, 
secretary  of  the  C.  S.  P.  S.  National  Supreme  Lodge, 
and  Vice-Governor  L.  J.  Sherman  were  invited  as 
Memorial  Day  speakers. 

Two  donations  were  voted :  $50.00  for  the  tJstf ed- 
ui  Matice  Skolska  in  Bohemia  and  $50.00  to  the 
widow  of  an  old  cemetery  employee,   Mrs.   Zacek. 

On  June  5  the  request  of  the  Freethinkers'  Con- 
vention to  build  a  speaker's  tribune  at  Klacel's  monu- 
ment for  the  day  of  the  celebration  held  there  on 
June  16  was  granted. 

It  was  resolved  to  add  $10.00  to  the  monthly 
salary  of  the  bookkeeper.  The  Board  of  Trustees 
was  instructed  to  investigate  the  financial  status  of 

77 


T.  B.  Potter,  from  whom  bonds  were  being  bought 
for  the  Association,  in  order  to  prevent  any  possibi- 
lity of  financial   losses. 

On  July  8  the  Supreme  Lodge  C.  S.  J.  became  a 
member,  with  Fr.  Dostal  and  Jos.  Doudera  as  dele- 
gates. 

On  September  4  the  architect  reported  the  new 
gate  finished. 

On  October  2  it  was  resolved  that  each  lot 
owner  be  permitted  to  erect  only  one  monument  on 
his  lot  and  that  monuments  on  graves  in  sections 
must  not  be  more  than  2  feet  wide,  one  foot  high 
and  6-12  inches  thick  and  must  be  only  of  granite. 

On  November  6  a  resolution  drafted  by  R.  L. 
Pitte,  Longin  Tuma  and  Vac.  Topinka  and  express- 
ing the  most  sincere  sympathy  to  the  family  of  the 
deceased  mem.ber,   Joseph   Kostner,   was  voted. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  experts 
found  the  financial  status  of  bonds  owned  by  the 
Association   favorable. 

New  Year's  donations  were  voted  as  follows : 
$1,200.00  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought  Schools, 
$300.00  to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asy- 
lum, $5.00  to  the  Narodni  Jednota  Severoceska  in 
Bohemia. 


1908 

On  February  5  the  statute  amendments  drafted 
by  a  special  committee,  consisting  of  E.  Frydl,  Chas. 
Novak,  F.  J.  Ring  and  M.  Wolf  were  adopted.  The 
duties  of  the  bookkeeper,  assistant  bookkeeper,  super- 
intendent, etc.,  v/ere  clearly  defined  by  these  provi- 
sions. 

L.  Tuma  was  appointed  assistent  bookkeeper  for 
a  termx  of  14  months  with  a  salary  of  $70.00  a  month. 

The  Bohemian  American  Cremation  Association 
sent  a  committee  (J.  Hejno,  Fr.  Kubec  and  Dr.  Ant. 
Mueller)  to  the  meeting  which  elected  a  committee 
consisting  of  V.  ftehak,  V.  Waska  and  Ant.  Charvat 
to  discuss  all  the  details  of  the  question  of  a  Bohe- 
mian crematory. 

On  March  4  it  was  resolved  that  cemetery  em- 

78 


ployees    must    avoid    all    religious    demonstration    at 
funerals. 

On  April  1  a  delegation  of  the  Jednota  Ceskych 
Dam  (Bohemian  Ladies'  Union,  Mrs.  B.  Ludvik  and 
Smrcek  as  delegates)  appeared  and  presented  the 
request  for  co-operation  of  the  Association  at  the  cele- 
bration of  the  unveiling  of  the  Pavla  Cechova  tomb- 
stone. The  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  help 
to  the  utmost  in  the  preparatory  work. — The  request 
of  the  joint  committee  for  the  celebration  of  the  100th 
birthday  anniversary  of  the  late  Ladimir  Klacel  was 
also   granted. 

A  donation  of  $50.00  was  voted  for  the  Palacky 
School. 

The  crematorium  committee  submitted  a  report 
after  which  it  was  resolved  to  wait  for  the  results  of 
the  newest  cremation  systems. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  6  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Chas.  Kopecky,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; St.  J.  Halik,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer; 
Jos.  A.  Smejkal  and  J.  M.  Kralovec,  members  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees;  Th.  David,  J.  H.  Cerny  and  John 
Klaus,  members  of  the  Auditing  Committee.  Fr.  Hu- 
sak  was  reelected  bookkeeper  and  Leo  Ine,  cemetery 
superintendent. 

It  was  resolved  that  the  Board  of  Trustees  be 
obliged  to  report  to  the  Association  what  bonds  were 
offered  to  the  board  for  purchase. 

On  June  3  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
county  drainage  bonds  were  purchased  for  $9,668.41. 
The  salary  of  the  cemetery  superintendent  was  in- 
creased to  $125.00  a  month. 

J.  J.  Krai  resigned  from  the  statute  committee 
and  C.  R.  Walleck  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

On  July  1  it  was  resolved  to  buy  only  Cook 
county   and   drainage   canal   bonds  in  the   future. 

It  was  further  resolved  to  take  part  in  the  cele- 
bration of  the  unveiling  of  the  tombstone  on  the  grave 
of  the  author,  Pavla  Cechova,  and  to  hold  the  annual 
tour  of  inspection  on  the  same  day. 

On  October  7  the  delegates  honored  the  memo- 
ry of  the  deceased  delegate  M.  Wolf  by  rising  from 
their  chairs.     The  recommendation   of  the   Board   of 

79 


Trustees  to  donate  the  burying  place  for  the  deceased 
Vac.  Kuchaf,  a  soldier  in  the  U.  S.  Army,  was  ap- 
proved. 

On  December  2  M.  Kozisek  was  elected  dele- 
gate to  the  Association  for  the  welfare  of  Bohemian 
Saturday  and  Sunday  Freethought  Schools.  A  writ- 
ten motion  of  Ferd.  Svoboda  to  call  a  conference  to 
discuss  the  organization  of  a  central  body  for  the 
management  of  all  Bohemian  Freethought  Schools 
was  referred  to  the  above  Association. 

The  following  donations  were  voted:  $2,000.00 
for  the  Bohemian  Freethought  Schools  and  for  the 
Old  Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  and  $100.00 
for  the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani.  To  facilitate  a 
just  distribution  the  secretary  was  instructed  to  ask 
all  local  schools  to  submit  reports  on  their  number 
of  pupils  and  teachers. 


1909 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  May  5  John  Pecha  was 
elected  President;  John  Bouse,  Vice-President;  St.  J. 
Hali'k,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  J.  M.  Kra- 
lovec  and  R.  L.  Pitte,  members  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees; John  Klaus,  Th.  David  and  V.  H.  Cerny,  mem- 
bers of  the  Auditing  Committee. 

On  June  2  a  committee,  consisting  of  Chas.  Ko- 
pecky,  Chas.  Novak  and  J.  W.  Egermayer,  was  elect- 
ed to  draft  a  resolution  of  sympathy  to  the  family  of 
the  deaceased  delegate  Fr.  Vytlacil. 

Judge  Kersten  was  the  English  speaker  at  the 
Memorial  Day  celebration. 

On  July  7  R.  L.  Pitte  was  appointed  delegate 
to  the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani  Convention  at  Iowa 
City,  la. — The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  set  for 
the   second   Sunday  in   September. 

On  September  8  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
that  three  visitors  from  Bohemia  who  came  to  Chica- 
go for  the  Sokol  gymnastic  drill  and  competitive  exer- 
cises had  been  invited  to  the  National  cemetery. 

On  October  6  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  the 
chief  gardener  and  cemetery  superintendent,  Leo  Ine, 
was    reported.      The    president    praised    warmly    the 

80 


meritorious  work  of  the  deceased  for  the  perfection 
of  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  and  asked  the 
present  delegates  to  honor  the  memory  of  the  lament- 
ed by  rising  from  their  chairs  whereupon  a  resolution 
of  sympathy  was  voted.  Chas.  Novak,  Vac.  Topinka 
and  J.  J.  Jelinek  were  appointed  to  draft  the  same. 

On  November  3  a  committee,  consisting  of  J.  J. 
Jelinek,  Fr.  Masek  and  V.  jRehak  was  elected  to  draft 
a  resolution  of  indignation,  condemning  the  execution 
of  the  great  freethinker,  Francisco  Ferrer,  in  Spain. 

On  December  1  the  following  donations  were 
voted:  $2,000.00  for  the  Bohemian  Freethought 
Schools  and  $1,000.00  for  the  Bohemian  Old  Peoples' 
Home   and   Orphan  Asylum. 

Longin  Tuma  was  elected  Cemetery  Superin- 
tendent. 


1910 

At  the  January  meeting  the  delegates  honored 
the  memory  of  the  deceased  delegate  Charles  Spirek 
by  rising  from  their  chairs. 

On  April  6  Bohumir  Velisek  was  appointed  assis- 
tant bookkeeper. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  4  John  Pecha  was 
elected  President;  John  Bouse,  Vice-President;  St.  J. 
Halik,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  A.  Smej- 
kal  and  Chas.  Kopecky,  members  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees;  Thom.  David,  V.  H.  Cerny  and  John  Klaus, 
members  of  the  Auditing  Committee. — Longin  Tuma 
was  reelected  cemetery  superintendent  and  F.  Husak, 
bookkeeper. 

The  Old  Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  As- 
sociation sent  an  invitation  to  the  celebration  of  the 
dedication  of  their  building.  The  president  requested 
the  delegates  to  attend. 

State  Attorney  Wyman  was  English  speaker  and 
Dr.  Jar.  E.  S.  Vojan,  Bohemian  speaker,  at  the  Mem- 
orial Day  celebration. 

A  special  meeting  was  held  on  June  29  to  settle 
the  question  of  a  donation  for  the  Havlicek  Monu- 
ment. 37  delegates  were  present  and  a  delegation 
of  the  Havlicek  Monument  Association,  consisting  of 

81 


V.  B.  Sedlacek,  T.  G.  Polivka,  F.  J.  Benes,  Mrs.  A. 
Hladky  and  Mrs.  L.  Benes,  appeared  before  the  meet- 
ing. After  a  live  debate  a  donation  of  $1,500  to  the 
fund  for  the  Havlicek  Monument  was  voted,  v^here- 
by  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  performed  its 
patriotic  duty  in  a  very  honorable  v^ay. 

At  the  annual  tour  of  inspection  on  August  14 
special  attention  v^as  paid  to  the  tract  of  land  offered 
to  the  cemetery  by  the  Illinois  Trust  and  Savings 
Bank.  The  land  measured  60  acres  and  the  price 
asked  was  $55,000. 

President  Pecha  and  secretary  Halik  were  elect- 
ed delegates  to  the  Havlicek  Monument  Association. 
Bohemian  American   Camp   No.   30   United   Vet- 
erans was  admitted  as  a  member.     Math.  Cerny  and 
Albert  Machacek  were  initiated  as  delegates. 

Ferd.  Svoboda  and  V.  Sustr  were  appointed  dele- 
gates to  the  Bohemian  Freethought  School  Associa- 
tion. 

At  the  September  meeting  a  vote  was  taken 
about  the  intended  purchase  of  60  acres.  22  votes 
were  for  the  motion,  28  against  it.  The  future  with 
its  lack  of  space  in  the  cemetery  and  the  soaring 
prices  of  land  showed  that  this  vote  was  very  un- 
fortunate. 

On  December  7  the  following  donations  were 
voted:  $2,000.00  to  the  Boh.  Freeth.  Schools,  $500.00 
to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum,  $25.00 
to  National  Slovak  School,  $25.00  to  Matice  Vyssiho 
Vzdelani  and  $25.00  to  Boh.  Benevolent  Society. 


1911 

On  January  4  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
that  City  of  Chicago  intended  to  purchase  the  tract 
of  land  which  had  been  offered  to  the  cemetery  and 
another  100  acres  and  to  build  a  municipal  tubercu- 
losis sanitarium  there.  Upon  the  advice  of  Alderman 
Cermak  it  was  resolved  to  protest  against  such  an 
institution  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cemetery  and  to  sign 
petitions  against  the  purchase  of  that  land  by  the 
city. 

82 


A  donation  of  $25.00  was  voted  to  the  Bohe- 
mian American  Press  Bureau. 

On  February  1  it  was  reported  that  the  protest 
against  the  purchase  of  the  above  mentioned  land 
was  fruitless  and  that  the  city  had  bought  the  tract. 

A  new  committee,  consisting  of  Fr.  Mencl,  Dr.  A. 
Radesinsky  and  A.  Kapsa,  was  elected  on  March  1  to 
study  the  crematorium  question  and  to  work  out  pre- 
liminaries. 

On  April  5  it  was  resolved  to  increase  the  salaries 
of  the  officers.  The  president  and  the  secretary  were 
to  receive  $100.00  each  per  year,  the  treasurer, 
$250.00,  without  any  further  extra  pay,  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  $150.00  each,  per  year. 

A  delegation  of  the  Bohemian  American  Crema- 
tory Association  (J.  W.  Egermayer,  Dr.  Fr.  Iska  and 
Dr.  A.  Mueller)  appeared  before  the  meeting  to  ex- 
plain the  situation,  regarding  the  erection  of  a  crema- 
torium. After  their  addresses  the  amount  of  $100.00 
was  voted  for  the  preliminary  work. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  3  John  Pecha  was 
elected  President;  E.  Frydl,  Vice-President;  St.  J. 
Halik,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  V.  Psenicka 
and  Chas.  Kopecky,  members  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, and  V.  H.  Cerny,  Th.  David  and  J.  Klaus,  mem- 
bers of  the  Auditing  Committee. 

A  special  meeting  was  held  on  May  18  to  dis- 
cuss the  motions,  regarding  several  statute  amend- 
ments and  to  decide  about  the  offers  for  the  erection 
of  greenhouses.  As  to  the  latter,  the  offer  of  J.  G. 
Maninger  Co.   was  accepted. 

The  motion  of  V.  Ruzicka  and  V.  H.  Filip  recom- 
mended that  elections  be  held  at  the  January  meet- 
ing. But  by  19  votes  against  6  it  v/as  decided  to  hold 
elections  at  the  May  meeting  and  in  the  present 
way. 

The  motion  of  Rudolph  Kapsa  to  increase  the 
memJoership  fee  to  $1,000.00  and  all  other  motions, 
regarding  statute  amendments,  were  rejected. 

On  June  7  it  was  resolved  to  send  letters  of 
thanks  to  Messrs.  Cermak,  Mangasarian  and  Gaske 
v/ho  had  delivered  the  addresses  at  the  Memorial  Day 
celebration. 

83 


On  August  2  the  recommendation  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  to  raise  the  prices  of  graves  from  Sep- 
tember 1  on  was  approved. 

The  delegates  of  the  Association,  attending  the 
sessions  of  the  Havlicek  Monument  Association,  re- 
ported that  the  celebration  of  the  unveiling  of  the 
Karel  Havlicek  Monument  at  Douglas  Park  on  July  30 
met  with  remarkable  success. 

On  September  6  it  was  reported  that  all  prelimi- 
nary work  for  the  erection  of  a  crematorium  had  been 
done  and  that  it  only  remained  to  secure  services  of 
an  expert  to  choose  the  best  cremation  system.  It 
was  resolved  that  V.  Dobias,  Jos.  Ringl  and  Jos.  Hla- 
dovec  be  added  to  the  present  committee  and  that 
these  with  the  officers  form  the  committee  for  the 
definite  work. 

On  October  4  the  delegates  honored  the  mem- 
ory of  the  deceased  editor  and  co-founder  of  the  Bo- 
hemian National  Cemetery,  Fr.  B.  Zdrubek,  by  rising 
from  their  chairs  and  a  committee  (Dr.  A.  Radesin- 
sky,  J.  M.  Kralovec,  Fr.  Mencl,  E.  Frydl  and  Jos.  Hla- 
dovec)  was  elected  to  draft  a  resolution  of  sympathy. 

The  Bohemian  American  Camp  No.  30  United 
Veterans  sent  a  letter  expressing  thanks  for  the  plac- 
ing of  monuments  donated  by  the  U.  S.  government. 

On  November  1  the  green-houses  were  reported 
finished. 

At  the  December  meeting  the  following  dona- 
tions were  voted:  $25.00  to  the  Nat.  Slovak  School, 
$25.00  to  the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani,  $2,000.00 
to  the  Bohemian  Freethought  Schools  and  $500.00  to 
the  Old  Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum. 

An  approval  was  expressed,  regarding  the  re- 
ported intention  of  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  Associa- 
tion to  transfer  the  inn  and  restaurant  to  the  so- 
called  "Point"  of  its  land,  and  it  was  resolved  to  re- 
quest the  Association  not  to  allow  any  undesirable 
elements  to   attend  the   picnics,  held   in   its  gardens. 


1912 

On  January  3   a   donation   of  $25.00   was   voted 
for  the  Bohemian  American  Press  Bureau. 

84 


On  February  7  the  Bohemian  American  Crema- 
tion Association  was  admitted  a  member. 

On  March  6  Dr.  Radesinsky  resigned  from  the 
crematorium  committee  and  Jos.  W.  Egermayer  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  A  new  contract  for  un- 
limited calls  was  signed  with  the  Telephone  Company. 

On  April  3  the  workingmen,  employed  by  the 
cemetery,  presented  a  complaint  that  wages  were  not 
justly  apportioned.  A  committee  (C.  Fiala,  J.  Hlado- 
vec,  J.  Komorous,  J.  Spevak  and  J.  J.  Benes)  was 
elected  to  settle  the  complaint. 

The  crematorium  committee  reported  that  the 
architect  Mr.  Rusy  had  been  intrusted  with  the  crema- 
torium sketches. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  1  John  Pecha  was 
elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  Fr.  Ma- 
sek,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  J.  A.  Smejkal 
and  Chas.  Kopecky,  members  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, and  J.  Klaus,  Th.  David  and  Jos.  Becvaf,  mem- 
bers of  the  Auditing  Committee. 

A  donation  of  $200.00  was  voted  to  the  employee 
Sykora,  whose  home  had  burned  down,  as  well  as 
a  lot  for  the  members  of  his  family  who  had  burned 
to   death. 

The  committee  which  had  been  elected  to  settle 
the  complaints  of  the  workingmen  submitted  a  de- 
tailed plan  of  work-time  and  wages  (nine  hours  a 
day  and  five  classes  of  wages  from  $2.00  to  $3.50  a 
day)  which  was  approved.  A  letter  signed  by  47 
employees  was  read  in  which  confidence  in  the  super- 
intendent and  the  Board  of  Trustees  was  expressed 
and  the  insulting  actions  of  other  employees  were 
condemned. 

Ferd.  Svoboda  and  V.  Suster  were  appointed 
delegates  to  the  Freethinkers*  School  Association  and 
V.  Dobias,  M.  Kara,  V.  Ruzicka,  V.  H.  Cerny  and  J.  J. 
Benes  were  elected  as  members  of  a  committee  to  re- 
vise the  statutes. 

Donations  of  $25.00  each  were  voted  to  Sokol 
Berwyn  school  and  Jan  Neruda  school. 

The  crematory  committee  reported  that  they  were 
waiting  for  the  sketches  of  one  more  architect.  Jos. 
W.  Egermayer,  who  was  going  to   California,   prom- 

85 


ised  to  inspect  crematories  in  that  state  and  members 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  Smejkal  and  Kopecky,  pre- 
paring to  go  to  Bohemia,  promised  to  visit  the  crema- 
torium in  Reichenberg. 

The  salaries  of  the  cemetery  superintendent  and 
bookkeeper  were  increased  to  $115.00  a  month.  La- 
ter they  were  given  also  a  2  weeks'  vacation,  provid- 
ing that  they  did  not  go  simultaneously. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  Sep- 
tember 8. 

A  special  meeting  was  held  on  November  13  to 
discuss  the  recommendations  of  the  crematorium  com- 
mittee. It  was  resolved  to  unite  the  crematory  with 
the  Chapel  building  which  would  then  satisfy  all  de- 
mands present  and  future.  As  to  the  price  it  was 
resolved  that  it  must  not  exceed  $35,000.00  and  this 
amount  had  to  include  remodelling  and  adorning  of 
the  terrace  before  the  chapel.  Cremation  furnaces 
were  excluded  from  the  approved  amount.  A  com- 
mittee of  three  (Ringl,  Smejkal  and  Dobias)  was 
elected  to  investigate  the  gas  question.  For  plans 
of  architects  a  public  competition  was  adopted  with 
three  prizes:  1,  adjudication  of  the  building  work; 
2,  a  prize  of  $100.00,  and  3,  a  prize  of  $75.00.  Only 
Bohemian  architects  were  admitted  to  the  competi- 
tion, and  any  builder  who  would  submit  plans  for  a 
higher  price  than  $35,000.00  would  not  be  entitled 
to  any  prize. 

On  December  4  the  cemetery  superintendent  re- 
ported two  sections  in  the  new  ''60  acres"  finished. 

The  chairman  of  the  crematorium  committee, 
Mencl,  reported  that  it  would  be  necessary  to  se- 
cure four  lots  for  the  extension  of  the  building. 

The  follov/ing  donations  were  voted:  $2,500.00 
to  the  Bohemian  Freethought  Schools,  $500.00  to  the 
Old  Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum,  $50.00  to  the 
Red  Cross  in  Europe,  $25.00  to  the  Matice  Vyssiho 
Vzdelani  and  $25.00  to  the  Nat.  Slovak  School. 


1913 

On  January  8  it  was  resolved  that  the  Associa- 
tion  become   a   member   of   the    Bohemian    American 


Press  Bureau  with  dues  of  $25.00  a  year.  A  dona- 
tion of  $50.00  was  voted  to  the  Singing  school  of  the 
Bohemian  Workingmen's  Singing  Society  and  it  was 
resolved  to  include  this  school  in  the  New  Years* 
donations   in   the    future. 

Fr.  Masek  Sr.  was  appointed  delegate  to  the 
Freethinker  School   Association. 

A  resolution  of  sympathy  was  voted  to  the  fam- 
ily of  the  deceased  delegate,  Math.  Kara.  The  reso- 
lution was  drafted  by  Jos.  W.  Egermayer,  Ferd.  Svo- 
boda  and  Jos.   Hladovec. 

On  February  5  two  donations  were  voted:  $25.00 
to  the  Bohemian  Benevolent  Society  and  $10.00  to  the 
Komensky  Educational  Club  at  Lincoln,  Nebr.,  for 
the  erection  of  a  Comenius  Monument. 

It  was  resolved  that  in  case  of  failure  by  the 
undertaker  to  order  the  grave  16  hours  before  the 
funeral  the  body  be  put  into  the  vault  and  interred 
next  day,  with  the  exception  of  those  who  had  died 
of  a  contagious  disease. 

The  crematorium  committee  recommended  the 
plan  of  the  architect  Randak  for  the  first  prize,  the 
plan  of  the  architect  Rusy  for  the  second  and  that  of 
the  architect  Charvat  for  the  third  prize.  But  all 
plans  were  rejected  on  account  of  a  price  higher  than 
$35,000.00. 

On  March  5,  three  shares  of  the  Boh.  Free- 
thought  School  at  Hanson  Park  were  purchased.  The 
request  to  decorate  the  graves  of  all  amateur-actors 
on  the  jubilee  day  of  March  23  was  granted. 

A  special  meeting  was  held  on  March  22.  Vari- 
ous sections  of  the  statutes  were  amended  and  de- 
clared valid  from  May  1,  1913,  on.  One  of  the  amend- 
ments was  the  increase  of  the  membership  fee  to 
$200.00. 

On  April  2,  the  motion  of  Chas.  Kopecky  that 
the  officers  with  exception  of  one  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  be  elected  only  to  February,  1914, 
was  adopted. 

The  crematorium  committee  reported  that  the 
contract  between  the  committee  and  the  architect 
Randak  was  signed  and  that  he  would  submit  the 
r.ew  plan  before  April   15. 


At  the  annual  meeting  on  May  7  John  Pecha  was 
elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  Fr.  Ma^ 
sek,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Chas.  Kope- 
cky  (for  two  years)  and  J.  M.  Kralovec  (for  one 
year),  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees;  and  Th. 
David,  John  Klaus  and  V.  H.  Cerny,  members  of  the 
Auditing   Committee. 

Kristof  Kolumbus  Lodge  No.  9  C.  S.  J.  was  ad- 
mitted a  member  with  Ant.  Zrust  and  Vac.  Plzak  as 
delegates.  The  lodge  paid  only  $100.00  admission 
fee,  because  the  meeting  of  the  lodge  in  which  it  was 
resolved  to  become  a  member  of  the  Bohemian  Na- 
tional Cemetery  Association  was  held  in  April  be- 
fore the  meeting  which  adopted  the  increase  of  the 
membership  fee  to  $200.00. 

Upon  motion  of  E.  Frydl,  Dr.  A.  Mueller,  as  a 
sanitary  expert,  was  appointed  member  of  the  build- 
ing committee. 

On  June  6  the  chairman  of  the  building  com- 
mittee reported  that  the  architect,  Mr.  Randak,  did 
not  conform  to  the  contract  and  submitted  plans  for 
a  crematorium  which  would  cost  at  least  $50,418.00. 
After  a  violent  debate  it  was  resolved  to  ignore  Mr. 
Randak's  plans  and  to  hold  a  special  meeting  where  it 
would  be  discussed  what  further  steps  should  be 
taken. 

At  the  special  meeting  of  June  11  Mr.  Randak's 
letter  was  read  first.  In  this  letter  he  explained  that 
the  higher  price  was  caused  by  some  absolutely  nec- 
essary additional  work,  especially  a  complete  rebuild- 
ing of  the  present  tower  in  order  to  obtain  space  for 
chimes,  and  a  special  construction  of  ventilation  for 
the  cremation  furnaces.  Further  the  prices  of  build- 
ing material  and  cartage  went  higher  after  May  1. 
Finally  the  original  conditions  reckoned  with  a  too 
small  a  space.  The  given  area  would  be  sufficient 
only  for  100  persons,  and  therefore  if  the  new  chapel 
was  to  offer  room  for  350  persons,  it  was  necessary 
to  change  the  plans  which  would  represent  now  ^an 
increase  of  2,000  square  feet.  A  cheaper  material 
would  be  a  hard  blow  to  the  imposing  aspect  of  the 
crematory,  but  the  use  of  marble  and  all  other  more 
expensive  adornment  had  necessarily  to  increase  the 

88 


estimate.  After  a  lengthy  debate  the  motion  was 
carried,  by  28  votes  against  14,  to  reconsider  the  de- 
cision by  which  the  price  of  the  crematory  had  been 
fixed  at  $35,000.00,  whereupon  it  was  resolved,  by 
41  votes  against  14,  "to  build  the  crematory  and  com- 
bine it  with  the  present  chapel,  because  this  is  an 
ideal  location  and  in  view  of  our  pioneer-freethink- 
ers and  founders  of  the  cemetery."  To  the  question 
of  J.  Jurka  and  E.  Frydl  as  to  whether  it  was  possible 
to  take  Mr.  Randak's  plan  into  consideration,  an 
affirmative  answer  was  given,  and  the  whole  matter 
referred  to  the  building  committee. 

Before  adjournment  the  president  announced  the 
death  of  the  prominent  freethinker,  Leo  J.  Palda. 
His  memory  was  honored  by  the  delegates  rising  from 
their  chairs  and  a  committee  (Jos.  W.  Egermayer, 
Chas.  Kopecky  and  Alb.  Machacek)  was  elected  to 
draft  a  resolution  of  sympathy. 

On  July  2,  the  building  committee  recommended 
making  an  appropriation  of  $65,000  for  the  crema- 
torium which  was  approved  by  33  votes  against  11. 
By  this  decision  the  erection  of  the  first  Bohemian 
crematorium  in  the  world  was  secured. 

It  was  resolved  to  pay  out  the  following  prizes 
to  the  architects  who  had  entered  the  competition: 
$100.00  to  Mr.  Busy  nd  $75.00  to  Mr.  Charvat. 

A  resolution  of  sympathy  was  voted  to  the  fam- 
ily of  the  deceased  delegate  Vac.  Straka. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  set  for  the 
last  Sunday  in  August. 

On  August  6,  Jos.  Novak  was  appointed  dele- 
gate to  the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani  Convention  on 
September  20  and  21. 

Chas.  Kopecky,  member  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, submitted  the  suggestion  of  erecting  a  John  Hus 
Monument  in  the  new  60  acres  in  order  to  celebrate 
the  500th  anniversary  of  his  martyrdom  on  July  6, 
1915.  It  was  resolved  that  the  delegates  discuss  this 
matter  in  their  societies. 

On  October  1  the  Bohemian  Sharpshooters  sent 
a  letter  of  protest  against  a  Hus  Monument  and  Jifi 
Washington  Lodge  C.  S.  P.  S.  a  letter  of  approval  of 
the  monument  idea. 

89 


The  contract  with  the  architect  Randak  was  sub- 
mitted. He  bound  himself  to  build  the  crematorium 
for  $65,000.00,  completing  it  before  November  1,. 
1914. 

On  November  5  further  protests  against  the  Hus 
monument  were  read,  from  Vernost  Lodge  C.  S.  P.  S., 
Cesky  Lev  Court  C.  A.  L.  a  L.  and  Otakar  Lodge  K. 
of  P. 

On  December  3  the  architect  Randak  reported 
the  basement  of  the  crematorium  finished.  The  cele- 
bration of  laying  of  the  foundation-stone  was  held  on 
December  7. 

The  following  donations  were  voted :  $2,500.00  ta 
the  Bohemian  Freethought  Schools,  $500.00  to  the  Old 
Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum,  $25.00  to  the 
Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani  and  $25.00  to  the  Singings 
school  of  the  Bohemian  Work.  Singing  Society. 

Rip  Lodge  and  Svobodomyslnost  Lodge  sent  pro- 
tests against  the   Hus  monument. 

Delegate  F.  J.  Benes  submitted  a  protest  against 
religious  ceremonies  in  the  cemetery.  The  majority 
of  the  delegates,  however,  declared  that  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Cemetery  was  not  so  partisan  as  to 
prohibit  decent  ceremonies. 


1914 

On  January  7,  the  nominations  for  offices  were 
made. 

A  donation  of  $10.00  was  voted  to  the  Nat.  Slo- 
vak School  at  Will  St.  where  70  children  were  taught 
the  Slovak  language.  Both  freethinkers  and  Catho- 
lic parents  sent  their  children  to  this  school. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  February  4  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  Fr. 
Masek,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  J.  M.  Kra- 
lovec  (for  one  year)  and  Jos.  A.  Smejkal  (for  twa 
years),  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  John 
Klaus,  Th.  David  and  Jos.  Ringl,  members  of  the 
Auditing  Committee.  Longin  Tuma  was  reappointed 
cemetery  superintendent;  Fr.  Husak,  bookkeeper,  and 
Boh.  Velisek,  assistant  bookkeeper. 

90 


John  Pecha  was  appointed  delegate  to  the  Bohe- 
mian American  Press  Association.  The  annual  dues, 
$25.00,  were  voted.  Fr.  Masek  Sr.  was  appointed 
delegate  to  the  John  Hus  Celebration  committee.  The 
latter  was  also  appointed  delegate  to  the  Straz  Osvo- 
jenych  with  $10.00  annual  dues. 

On  March  4  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
the  Jarvis  Engineering  Co.  would  deliver  the  crema- 
tion furnaces  for  $6,500.00. 

Upon  motion  of  delegate  Suchan  a  congratula- 
tory letter  was  voted  upon  the  60th  Anniversary  of 
the  C.  S.  P.  S.  Upon  motion  of  Fr.  Masek  Sr.  the 
memory  of  all  members  of  C.  S.  P.  S.  who  had  con- 
tributed to  the  welfare  of  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery  was  honored  by  members  rising  from  their 
chairs  and  upon  motion  of  Chas.  Kopecky  it  was  re- 
solved that  Bro.  Rud.  Janda  who  would  take  part  at 
the  celebration  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  should  deliver  a 
bouquet  of  flowers  in  the  name  of  the  Association 
and  congratulate  the  C.  S.  P.  Society  upon  such  a 
significant  jubilee. 

On  April  1  J.  M.  Kralovec,  as  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  called  the  attention  of  the  meet- 
ing to  the  fact  that  another  member  of  the  same 
board,  J.  A.  Smejkal,  had  just  reached  30  years  of 
his  indefatigable  work  for  the  welfare  of  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Cemetery.  Upon  motion  of  delegate 
Egermayer  sincere  thanks  were  expressed  to  this 
zealous  delegate  and  a  bouquet  of  30  roses  was  sent 
to  his  home. 

On  May  6  the  Bohemian  Old  Peoples'  Home  and 
Orphan  Asylum  Association  submitted  a  request  that 
a  special  space  be  donated  for  burials  of  the  deceased 
inmates  of  this  institution.  The  demand  was  not 
granted.  It  was,  however,  resolved  that  a  free  grave 
be  given  whenever  the  above  Association  should  ask 
far  it. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  Mr.  Mekota 
of  Cedar  Rapids,  la.,  would  deliver  the  Bohemian 
speech  at  the  Memorial  Day  celebration. 

On  July  1  the  attorneys,  Jones,  Kerner  and  Pos- 
vic,  offered  to  settle  the  claim  of  the  architects.  Char- 
vat  and  Zidek,  for  the  crematorium  plans  for  $500.00. 

91 


The  offer  was  rejected,  because  the  Association  was 
not  under  any  legal  obligation  to  pay  for  plans  which 
were  not  accepted. 

On  August  5  a  resolution  of  sympathy,  drafted 
by  a  committee,  consisting  of  Boh.  Wacek,  Fr.  Petru 
and  Jos.  Novak,  on  account  of  the  death  of  the  dele* 
gate,  Fr.  J.  Benes,  was  adopted. 

On  September  2  the  same  committee  was  in- 
structed to  draft  a  resolution  of  sympathy  for  the 
family  of  the  deceased  delegate  J.  Komorous. 

The  request  of  the  surface  lines  company  to  sign 
a  petition  for  the  extension  of  Crawford  Avenue 
tracks  north  of  the  cemetery  was  granted,  because  it 
would  be  a  convenience  to  the  visitors  coming  to  the 
Bohemian  National  Cemetery. 

On  November  4  the  building  committee  reported 
that  the  crematorium  would  be  finished  soon  and  that 
the  first  body  would  be  cremated  the  following  Thurs- 
day at  2  P.  M.  The  first  body  to  be  cremated  in  the 
crematorium  was  that  of  the  Bohemian-American 
journalist  and  poet,  Joseph  Bezdeka. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  a  new  see* 
tion  would  be  opened  in  the  60  acre  tract. 

Attorneys  Kroupa  and  Smejkal  were  intrusted 
with  the  defense  of  the  Association  which  was  sued 
by  the  architects  Charvat  and  Zidek  for  $1,000.00 
as  indemnity  for  the  non-accepted   crematory   plans. 

At  the  December  meeting  the  Board  of  Trustees 
reported  that  already  five  bodies  were  cremated  in 
the  crematorium.  The  fee  was  fixed  at  $25.00  if  the 
small  hall  was  used  and  $5.00  more  if  the  large  hall 
was  used. 

A  donation  of  $500.00  to  the  John  Hus  Memo- 
rial  Home  was  voted  upon  recommendation  of  J. 
Rada,  J.  W.  Egermayer  and  V.  Dobias. 

New  Year's  donations  were  voted  as  follows: 
$2,500.00  to  the  Freethought  Schools;  $50.00  to  the 
Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani;  $25.00  to  the  Bohemian 
American  Press  Association  and  $25.00  to  the  Boh. 
Work.   Singing   Society. 


92 


1915 

After  nominations  the  January  meeting  voted  a 
donation  of  $10.00  to  the  Nat.  Slovak  School. 

J.  M.  Kralovec,  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
reported  that  the  cost  of  the  crematorium  would  be 
about  $83,000.00,  the  columbarium  not  included. 

Fr.  Masek  Sr.  v^as  appointed  delegate  to  the 
Hus  Memorial  Home  Association. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  February  3,  Jos.  Hla- 
dovec  v^as  elected  President;  Fr.  Mencl,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; St.  J.  Hallk,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer; 
John  Pecha  (for  tv^o  years)  and  E.  Frydl  (for  one 
year),  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  Th. 
David,  J.  Klaus  and  Alb.  Machacek,  members  of  the 
Auditing  Committee. 

Upon  request  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  a  commit- 
tee of  five  (B.  Wacek,  Jos.  Bfezina,  Fr.  Masek,  V.  H. 
Cerny  and  J.  Rothbauer)  was  elected  to  audit  all  con- 
tracts and  bills,  paid  in  connection  with  the  crema- 
torium and  to  report  to  the  Association,  as  the  crema- 
torium was  to  be  finished  in  a  few  weeks  and  dedi- 
cated to  its  purpose. 

A  new  section  in  the  60-acre  tract  was  reported 
opened. 

Upon  remai^ks  of  John  Pecha  and  V.  Dobias,  con- 
cerning the  splendid  services  of  Messrs.  Mencl  and 
Kralovec  in  the  building  of  the  crematorium,  the  spe- 
cial thanks  of  the  Association  were  voted  to  these 
two  delegates. 

At  the  March  meeting  J.  A.  Smejkal  was  appoint- 
ed delegate  to  the  Sokol  Slavsky  jubilee  celebration. 

On  April  7  upon  motion  of  Chas.  Kopecky  it  was 
resolved  that  anybody  who  wanted  to  erect  a  monu- 
ment in  the  cemetery  had  to  submit  a  sketch  of  it  to 
the  Board  of  Trustees  who  would  decide  whether  or 
not  it  should  be  erected. 

On  May  5  the  invitation  of  the  Old  Peoples' 
Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  Association  to  the  cele- 
bration of  the  laying  of  the  foundation-stone  for  a 
new  building  of  the  Orphan  Asylum  was  accepted  and 
a  donation  of  $100.00  approved.  Jos.  Hladovec  was 
appointed  delegate  for  the  celebration. 

93 


Messrs.  Shanahan  and  Dr.  A.  Mueller  were  in- 
vited as  speakers  for  the   Memorial  Day  celebration. 

On  June  2  a  committee  of  three  (J.  W.  Eger- 
mayer,  Fr.  Mencl  and  R.  Kapsa)  was  elected  to  per- 
sonally call  upon  those  owners  of  lots  who  would  not 
sell  or  exchange  their  lots  in  front  of  the  crema- 
torium. 

On  July  7  the  contract  for  the  erection  of  the 
columbarium  with  porcelain  walls  was  given  to  the 
Pilsen  Foundry  for  $4,500.00. 

On  August  4  in  view  of  several  demands  for 
loans  it  was  resolved  that  the  Association  would  grant 
no  loans  upon  buildings  belonging  to  Associations, 
because  the  charter  did  not  allow  it. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  on  account 
of  the  Eastland  disaster  almost  the  entire  16th  sec- 
tion was  sold.  A  letter  of  thanks  was  voted  to  the 
Chief  Bailiff,  Mr.  Ant.  Cermak,  and  to  the  Bohemian 
Relief  Committee  for  automobiles  furnished  to  the 
survivors  and  for  the  transportation  of  flowers  to 
the  cemetery. 

The  motion  of  Jos.  Jurka  to  erect  a  monument 
to  the  victims  of  the  Eastland  disaster,  the  majority 
of  whom  were  interred  in  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery,  was  referred  to  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
(At  that  disaster,  which  occured  on  July  24,  850  per- 
sons died,  and  a  great  part  of  the  victims  were  Bohe- 
mians.) 

On  September  1  the  salaries  of  both  bookkeep- 
ers and  of  the  superintendent  were  raised  (the  super- 
intendent was  to  receive  $10.00  more  a  month  and 
the  bookkeepers  each  $5.00  more). 

On  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  it 
was  decided  to  tear  down  the  stair-case,  which  had 
not  been  correctly  built,  and  to  replace  it  with  a 
stone  stair-case. 

The  John  Hus  Memorial  Home  Association  sent 
an  invitation  to  the  foundation-stone  celebration  on 
October  17,  1915.  Fr.  Mencl  was  appointed  to  sub- 
stitute at  this  celebration  for  the  delegate  Hladovec 
who  was  ill,  and  a  donation  of  $100.00  was  voted, 
as  well  as  the  drafting  of  a  memorial  document  to 
be  sealed  into  the  foundation-stone. 

94 


On  December  1,  the  following  New  Year's  dona- 
tions were  voted:  $3,000.00  to  the  Freethought 
Schools  and  $50.00  to  the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani. 


1916 

On  January  5  a  donation  of  $500.00  was  voted 
to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  Asso- 
ciation, but  the  secretary  was  instructed  to  inform  the 
Old  Peoples'  Home  Association  that  the  Bohemian 
National  Cemetery  Association  was  opposed  to  Mr. 
Charvat  being  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  Association. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  the  colum- 
barium would  be  finished  by  the  end  of  February 
and  that  the  stair-case  in  front  of  the  crematorium 
was  finished  and  paid  for. — An  amount  of  $200.00 
was  voted  for  repairs  to  the  Veterans'  Monument. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  February  2  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  F.  Mencl,  Vice-President;  B.  J. 
Wacek,  Secretary;  J.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  J.  A.  Smej- 
kal  (for  two  years)  and  E.  Frydl  (for  one  year)  and 
Th.  David  (for  the  rest  of  the  one  year  term),  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Trustees;  John  Klaus,  Albert 
Machacek  and  John  Rothbauer,  members  of  the  Au- 
diting Committee. 

Vac.  Illich  and  Ferd.  Svoboda  were  appointed 
delegates  to  the  Freethought  Schools  Association  and 
John  Pecha  and  V.  J.  Matejka  to  the  Old  Peoples' 
Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  Association  (upon  request 
of  the  same). 

A  donation  of  $50.00  was  voted  to  the  build- 
ing fund  of  the  Morton  Par'k  Freethought  School. 

On  March  1  the  request  of  the  Bohemian  Na- 
tional Alliance  that  its  Memorial  Day  celebration  in 
honor  of  Bohemian  soldiers  who  died  in  Europe  be 
united  with  the  Cemetery  Memorial  Day  celebration 
was  granted. 

Following  the  report  of  Mr.  Masek  that  the  Na- 
tional Slovak  School  is  conducted  in  the  spirit  of  the 
Free  Thought,  a  donation  of  $10.00  was  voted  to  this 
school. 

95 


The  delegates  honored  the  memory  of  the  de- 
ceased delegate,  M.  Kolaf,  by  rising  from  their  chairs. 

On  April  5  J.  A.  Smejkal  submitted  the  sugges- 
tion that  the  walls  of  the  crematorium  be  adorned 
with  paintings  and  presented  a  sketch  of  such  a  deco- 
ration. The  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  ob- 
tain some  more  sketches  and  to  ascertain  the  expense. 

A  letter  of  sympathy  was  voted  for  the  family 
of  Jos.  Plotz,  who  had  been  an  employee  of  the  ceme- 
tery for  the  past  25  years. 

A  special  meeting  was  held  on  April  16  with 
the  purpose  of  discussing  the  columbarium  decoration. 
It  was  resolved  that  the  columbarium  and  the  adjoin- 
ing smaller  rooms  only  be  painted  and  that  in  the 
smaller  ceremony  hall  and  in  the  rest  of  the  lower 
rooms  the  walls  be  enameled  and  the  ceilings  white- 
washed. 

On  May  3  V.  Dobias  was  appointed  delegate  to 
the  Hus   Memorial  Home  Association. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  the  total 
cost  of  the  redeeming  of  lots  in  front  of  the  crema- 
torium was  $5,721.80. 

The  superintendent,  Longin  Tuma,  reported  the 
death  of  Vincent  Jefabek,  one  of  the  oldest  employ- 
ees of  the  cemetery.  A  letter  of  sympathy  was  voted, 
and  the  Board  of  Trustees  instructed  to  investigate 
whether  the  Plotz  and  Jefabek  families  needed  any 
assistance. 

On  June  7  delegate,  Dr.  Mueller,  sent  a  letter 
recommending  the  erection  of  a  bust  of  the  co-found- 
er of  the  cemetery,  F.  B.  Zdrubek.  The  matter  was 
tabled  until  Dr.  Mueller  should  be  present  at  a  meet- 
ing. 

The  John  Hus  Memorial  Home  Association  sent 
an  invitation  to  the  celebration  of  the  opening  of  its 
building  on  July  7. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  it  would  be 
necessary  to  change  the  charter  in  consequence  of 
the  erection  of  the  crematorium. 

On  September  6  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
that  on  September  17,  the  urn  with  the  ashes  of  F.  B. 
Zdrubek  and  his  wife  would  be  transferred  to  an 
honorary  place  near  KlaceFs  Monument. 

96 


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On  December  6  the  New  Year's  donations  were 
voted  as  follows:  $3,000.00  to  the  Freethought 
schools;  $500.00  to  the  Hus  Memorial  Home;  and 
$50.00  to  the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani. 


1917 

On  January  3  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
that  the  negotiations  which  had  been  conducted  with 
the  purpose  of  the  dropping  of  Mr.  Charvat's  law 
suit  had  been  successful.  After  that  a  donation  of 
$1,000.00  was  voted  to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  and 
Orphan  Asylum  Association,  which  amount  was  to  be 
paid  out  as  soon  as  Mr.  Charvat's  affairs  would  be 
settled. 

A  donation  of  $500.00  was  voted  to  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Alliance. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  February  7  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Jos.  Ringl,  Vive-President; 
B.  J.  Wacek,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Th. 
David  (for  two  years)  and  F.  Boucek  (for  one  year), 
members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  John  Klaus, 
Alb.  Machacek  and  Jos.  Bfezina,  members  of  the 
Auditing  Committee. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  submitted  two  plans  for 
the  new  office  building,  one  for  a  two  story  building 
($8,500)  and  the  other  for  a  one  story  building 
($4,500).     The  latter  was  approved. 

On  March  6  the  erection  of  green-houses  to  cost 
$6,000.00   was  approved. 

The  motion  of  J.  A.  Smejkal  to  order  an  organ 
for  the  crematorium  was  approved,  but  the  action 
on  it  was  postponed. 

On  April  4  upon  recommendation  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  the  wages  of  cemetery  employees  were 
increased  and  a  new  plan  for  the  erection  of  a  floral 
department  office  was  approved. 

On  May  2  the  new  wage  scale  was  approved 
(there  were  five  classes  of  labor  at  from  24  to  38 
cents  an  hour  and  a  9-hour  working  day) . 

It  was  resolved  to  buy  war  bonds  for  $10,000.00. 

At  the  Memorial  Day  celebration  Judge  Harry 
Olson  and  Prof.  Boh.  Simek  from  the  University  of 

97 


Iowa  were  speakers  and  Fr.  Stejskal,  a  Civil  War 
veteran,   was  the   chief  marshall. 

On  June  6  it  was  reported  that  about  50  bids 
were  submitted  for  the  office  building.  A  commit- 
tee of  five,  Jos.  Kfiz,  Fr.  Masek,  St.  Simeceik,  Ant. 
Zrust  and  Fr.  J.  Petru,  was  elected  to  examine  the 
bids  and  to  report  on  them. 

The  motion  of  Jos.  Kfiz  that  the  Association  be- 
come a  life  member  of  the  Red  Cross  with  a  fee  of 
$25.00  was  approved. 

On  June  13,  at  a  special  meeting,  it  was  decided 
to  postpone  the  erection  of  the  new  office  building, 
because  the  lowest  bid  was  for  $63,500.00,  and  with 
inner  equipment  $70,000.00,  and  to  wait  till  prices 
would  decline. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  also  reported  that  the 
contract  with  Mr.  Scheiner  was  signed.  His  property 
adjoining  the  cemetery  was  purchased  for  $50,000.00, 
with  the  provision  that  he  would  be  permitted  to  rent 
it  for  two  years  and  would  pay  a  rent  of  $1,000.00 
for  the  second  year. 

On  July  11  the  assistant  bookkeeper,  B.  Velisek, 
resigned. 

At  the  annual  tour  of  inspection,  on  July  29,  the 
property  purchased  from  Mr.  Scheiner  was  also  in- 
spected. After  the  inspection  a  meeting  was  held  at 
the  small  ceremony  hall  where  the  president,  John 
Pecha,  reminded  the  delegates  present  that  forty 
years  had  elapsed  since  the  founding  of  the  cemetery 
and  that  76  delegates  had  entered  the  Realm  of  the 
Unknown.  Two  delegates,  Fr.  Mencl  and  V.  Topinka, 
Avho  for  forty  years  were  zealously  active  as  dele- 
gates, were  presented  with  beautiful  watch-fobs. 

On  August  1  the  questions  of  the  organ  and  the 
decoration  of  the  large  ceremony  hall  in  the  crema- 
torium were  revived  bj^  A.  J.  Smejkal  and  Chas.  Ko- 
pecky.  The  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  take 
both  matters  under  consideration. 

Jos.  Kfiz  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Audit- 
ing Committee  to  fill  the  vacancy,  caused  by  the 
resignation  of  J.  Bfezina. 

On  September  5  J.  Gregor  was  appointed  assis- 
tant  bookkeeper. 

98 


On  October  3  it  was  reported  that  several  artists 
were  willing  to  send  estimates  for  the  decoration  of 
the  large  hall  of  the  crematorium.  It  was  resolved 
to  ask  the  Bohemian  Arts  Club  for  advisory  services. 

On  December  5  the  following  New  Year's  dona- 
tions were  voted:  $3,000.00  to  the  Freethought 
Schools;  $500.00  to  the  Old  Peoples  Home  and 
Orphan  Asylum  Association;  $500.00  to  the  John 
Hus  Memorial  Home  and  $50.00  to  the  Matice  Vyssi- 
ho   Vzdelani. 

1918 

On  January  2  the  memory  of  the  former  dele- 
gate, Rud.  Kapsa,  and  of  the  two  delegates,  Fr.  Mencl 
and  Jos.  Hladovec,  who  had  died  while  in  office  last 
year,  was  honored  and  the  president  and  secretary 
were  instructed  to  send  resolutions  of  sympathy  to 
the  families  of  Fr.  Mencl  and  Jos.  Hladovec. 

Upon  complaint  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  that 
the  ceremony  halls  in  the  crematorium  were  rarely 
used  (during  December  the  large  hall  was  used  only 
three  times,  the  small  not  at  all),  for  which  the  under- 
takers were  often  to  blame,  because  they  hurried 
with  the  funeral  and  insinuated  to  the  survivors  that 
the  hall  was  too  expensive,  it  was  resolved  to  inform 
the  public  what  the  conditions  for  the  use  of  the 
large  hall  were  and  that  the  small  hall  could  be  used 
free  of  charge. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  February  6  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Jos.  Ringl,  Vice-President; 
B.  J.  Wacek,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  J.  A. 
Smejkal  (for  two  years)  and  Fr.  Boucek  (for  one 
year),  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  John 
Klaus,  Jos.  Kfiz  and  Alb.  Machacek,  members  of  the 
Auditing  Committee. 

The  salary  of  the  superintendent  was  increased 
to  $150.00  a  month  and  that  of  the  assistant  book- 
keeper to  $100.00,  from  March  1,  1918.  Mr.  John 
Kozak  was  appointed  bookkeeper  during  the  sickness 
of  Mr.  Husak. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  a  pamphlet 
would  be  issued  which  would  foster  the  idea  of  crema- 
tion and  the  use  of  the  ceremony  halls  for  funerals. 

99 


On  March  6  a  donation  of  $100.00  was  voted  to 
the  Vcelky  Society  for  its  fund  for  purchases  of  neces- 
sities  for   Czechoslovak   volunteers. 

On  May  1  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
the  Scheiner  restaurant  was  rented  to  Mr.  Bezvoda 
for  $100.00  a  month,  that  Liberty  bonds  were  bought 
for  $15,000.00  and  that  the  wages  of  employees  were 
increased  2  cents  an  hour. 

J.  Kozak  was  appointed  bookkeeper  with  a  sal- 
ary of  $100.00  a  month  and  free  quarters. 

At  the  Memorial  Day  celebrations.  Governor 
Frank  O.  Lowden  and  attorney  J.  J.  Vlach  from  Mil- 
waukee, Wis.,   were  speakers. 

On  June  5  the  Bohemian  Arts  Club  submitted  a 
written  opinion  regarding  the  decoration  of  the  Crem- 
atorium hall. 

A  donation  of  $3,000.00  was  voted  to  the  Amer- 
ican Red  Cross.  Also  a  purchase  of  War  Savings 
Stamps  for  $1,000.00  was  approved. 

The  lowest  bid  for  an  organ  for  the  crematorium 
hall,  submitted  by  Coburn  Organ  Co.  ($3,000.00  and 
$550.00  for  the  automatic  player),  was  approved. 

On  July  3  a  donation  of  $300.00  was  voted  for 
the   Czechoslovak  Relief   Committee. 

The  offer  .of  J.  A.  Malin  for  the  paintings  in  the 
crematorium  ($3,000.00,  while  Mr.  Petrtyl's  estimate 
was  for  $9,500.00)    was  approved. 

The  fee  for  cremation  was  increased  to  $30.00. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  July 
28.  The  delegates  approved  the  resolution  submit- 
ted by  J.  A.  Smejkal  and  recommending  that  the 
memory  of  82  former  delegates  buried  in  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Cemetery  be  honored  by  placing  an 
American  flag  on  their  graves  for  three  days. 

On  August  7  the  Board  of  Trustees  submitted  a 
proposition  that  the  rest  of  the  rooms  and  stair-cases 
in  the  crematorium  be  decorated  for  an  additional 
sum  of  $690.00.     The  proposition  was  approved. 

On  September  4  the  request  of  the  Grand  Com- 
mittee of  J.  C.  D.  for  membership  in  the  Association 
was  rejected  by  23  votes  against  21.  The  motion  of 
M.  Nosek  that  the  membership  fee  be  increased  to 
$500.00  was  carried  by  51  votes  against  9  with  the 

100 


provision  that  this  increase  would  not  be  valid  for 
the  Grand  Committee  J.  C.  D.  should  it  renew  its  re- 
quest. 

A  resolution  submitted  by  the  Board  of  Trustees 
proposed  that  a  loan  of  not  more  than  $5,000.00  be 
granted  to  the  Bohemian  English  School  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  on  March  29,  1918  as  a  token  of 
gratitude  to  the  C.  S.  P.  S.  lodges  which  in  the  first 
days  of  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  gave  to  the 
Cemetery  Association  the  greatest  financial  help.  The 
president  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  were  authorized 
to  make  this  loan  if  the  building  should  be  rebuilt. 

The  motion  of  St.  Simecek  to  vote  a  worthy  dona- 
tion to  the  Bohemian  National  Alliance  and  the  mo- 
tion of  J.  Ringl  that  the  donation  be  $25,000.00  were 
postponed  to  the   next  meeting. 

On  October  2  a  donation  of  $5,000.00  to  the  Bo- 
hemian National  Alliance   was  voted  unanimously. 

The  Old  Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  As- 
sociation sent  a  written  declaration  that  it  would  com- 
ply with  the  request  of  the  Cemetery  Association 
not  to  rent  its  gardens  for  any  picnics  which  disturb- 
ed the  funeral  ceremonies  by  the  blare  of  bands. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  the  model 
order  prevailing  in  the  cemetery  during  the  influenza 
epidemic  was  lauded  by  the  City  Board  of  Health. 
The  increase  of  wages  of  employees,  25  cents  a  day 
more,  on  account  of  the  strenuous  work  during  the 
epidemic,  and  a  10  per  cent  increase  in  the  price  of 
lots   were   approved. 

On  December  4  the  Board  of  Trustees  recom- 
mended that  work  begin  on  the  history  of  the  second 
quarter  of  a  century  of  the  Cemetery  Association  and 
that  the  editor,  Vac.  J.  Petrzelka,  be  intrusted  with 
this  work. 

The  New  Year's  donations  were  voted  as  fol- 
lows: $3,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought  Schools 
Association;  $500.00  to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  and 
Orphan  Asylum ;  $50.00  to  the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzd^- 
lanf. 


101 


1919 

On  January  8  the  motion  was  carried  that  the 
salary  of  the  president  be  increased  to  $150.00  and 
that  of  the  treasurer  to  $300.00. 

On  Sunday,  January  26,  the  dedication  of  the 
crematorium  with  the  new  decorations  was  held. 
Sixty  delegates  were  present.  Jos.  A.  Smejkal  deline- 
ated a  short  history  of  the  first  Bohemian  crema- 
torium in  the  world;  the  president,  John  Pecha,  de- 
scribed the  obstacles  which  were  to  be  overcome; 
the  orator  of  the  Svobodna  Obec,  V.  J.  Petrzelka, 
delivered  a  speech  about  the  cremation  of  the  dead, 
from  the  remotest  days  to  the  present  time;  and  the 
organ  virtuoso,  Mr.  Stephen  Erst,  played  several  mus- 
ical compositions  on  the  new  organ. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  February  5  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Jos.  Ringl,  Vice-President; 
V.  H.  Filip,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Th 
David  (for  two  years)  and  Fr.  Boucek  (for  one  year), 
members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  John  Klaus, 
Jos.  Kfiz  and  Jos.  Lang,  members  of  the  Auditing 
Committee. 

A  resolution  refuting  an  unjust  and  offensive 
criticism  published  in  the  "Kvety  Americke"  was  ap- 
proved. 

Superintendent,  Longin  Tuma,  and  bookkeepers, 
Kozak  and  Gregor,  were  reappointed  for  the  next 
year,  and  the  salaries  of  both  bookkeepers  were  raised 
($10.00  more  a  month). 

On  May  5  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
Liberty  Bonds  (of  the  fifth  loan)  for  $25,000.00  had 
been  purchased. 

The  memory  of  the  deceased  delegate,  Fr.  Ciha, 
was  honored  by  rising  to  attention  and  the  officers 
were  instructed  to  attend  the  funeral. 

At  the  Memorial  Day  celebration  Judge  S.  H. 
Trude  and  editor  J.  J.  Jelmek  were  speakers. 

On  account  of  a  big  cash  balance  it  was  resolved 
to  buy  Liberty  Bonds  for  $22,500.00  and,  if  possible, 
some  other  bonds. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  July 
27.     Among  other  things  it  was  resolved  to  hire  an 

102 


expert  who  would  devise  a  new  plan  for  the  entire 
cemetery,  showing  how  everything  should  be  arranged 
in  the  future,  because  the  barn,  green-houses,  etc., 
were  soon  to  be  rebuilt. 

On  August  6  J.  A.  Smejkal  reported  that  the 
Board  of  Trustees  visited  several  Chicago  cemeteries 
and  studied  the  work  systems  and  the  arrangement 
of  the  cemeteries.  It  was  especially  noted  that  for 
the  roads  tar  and  sand  were  used  instead  of  oil,  and 
it  was  therefore  resolved  to  try  this  road  treatment. 
As  to  the  cemetery  plan  it  was  reported  that  the  plan 
was  being  worked  upon  by  the  architect,  Mr.  Rus^, 
together  with  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

On  September  3  it  was  resolved  to  lend  the  large 
ceremony  hall  to  the  Svobodna  Obec  for  the  memorial 
celebration  in  honor  of  Fr.  B.  Zdrubek,  on  Sunday, 
September  14,  and  to  place  a  wreath  at  his  urn. 

Upon  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
based  on  the  conditions  in  other  Chicago  cemeteries 
it  was  resolved  to  raise  the  wages  of  workingmen 
3  to  4  cents  an  hour  and  to  increase  the  salaries  of 
the  superintendent  and  both  bookkeepers  $10.00  a 
month  each. 

On  October  1  the  Board  of  Trustees  submitted 
a  resolution  that  the  memorial  celebration,  held  by 
the  Svobodna  Obec  in  honor  of  Fr.  B.  Zdrubek,  be 
attended  by  the  Cemetery  Association  every  year  on 
account  of  the  fact  that  Zdrubek  gave  the  impulse 
to  the  founding  of  the  cemetery  and  remained  its  true 
adviser  and  defender  all  his  life.  The  resolution  was 
adopted  unanimously. 

It  was  resolved  to  allow  a  three  year  contract  to 
Mr,  Bezvoda,  restaurant  lessee,  on  cemetery  property. 

On  December  3  the  following  New  Year's  dona- 
tions were  voted :  $3,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  Free- 
thought  Schools;  $1,000.00  to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home 
and  Orphan  Asylum;  $500.00  to  the  John  Hus  Mem- 
orial Home;  $500,00  to  the  Bohemian  English  School 
on  18th  St,;  $100.00  to  the  F.  B,  Zdrubek  School; 
$50.00  to  the   Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani. 

A  resolution  of  sympathy  was  voted  on  account 
of  the  death  of  Vac.  Topinka,  a  delegate  of  40  years 

103 


standing,    former    Vice-President,    former    Treasurer 
and  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 


1920 

On  January  7,  before  nominations  were  made, 
it  was  resolved  that  the  Vice-President  receive  $25.00 
a  year. 

A  donation  of  $25.00  was  voted  to  the  Bohemian 
American  Cremation  Society. 

Mr.  J.  Gregor,  bookkeeper  in  the  floral  depart- 
ment, having  resigned,  Mr.  Otto  Scheiner  was  ap- 
pointed in  his  stead.  The  Board  of  Trustees  was  in- 
structed to  submit  plans  for  the  rebuilding  of  the 
office  of  the  floral  department  and  of  the  floral  shop, 
because  the  floral  business  was  increasing  rapidly. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  February  4,  John  Pe- 
cha  was  elected  President;  J.  Ringl,  Vice-President; 
V.  H.  Filip,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  J.  A. 
Smejkal  (for  two  years)  and  Jos.  Siman  (for  one 
year) ,  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  J.  Klaus, 
J.  Kfiz  and  V.  Waska,  members  of  the  Auditing  Com- 
mittee. 

A  contract  was  signed  with  the  Cobum  Organ 
Co.,  which  undertooik  to  tune  the  organ,  keep  it  in 
order  and  make  necessary  repairs  for  $100.00  a  year. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  recommended  that  the 
wages  of  workingmen  be  increased  about  5  cents  an 
hour  on  the  average,  and  that  the  salaries  of  office 
employees  be  as  follows:  the  superintendent,  $2,000; 
the  bookkeeper  in  the  main  office,  $1^560,  and  the 
bookkeeper  in  the  loral  department,  $1,560  a  year. 
The  recommendation  was  approved. 

The  plans  for  the  new  floral  department  office 
submitted  by  the  architect,  Busy,  were  approved. 

On  April  7  the  purchase  of  Franklin  County 
(111.)  bonds  or  $10,000.00  v/as  reported. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  April  28  the  program 
for  the  Memorial  Day  celebration  was  decided  upon. 
Judge  R.  S.  Crowe  and  editor  J.  V.  Petrzelka  were 
invited  as  speakers.  Captain  F.  R.  Lewis  reported 
that  the  U.  S.  Government  would  donate  head-stones 
for  the  graves  of  all  soldiers  buried  in  Chicago  ceme- 

104 


teries,  and  the  secretary  was  therefore  instructed  to 
urge  the  relatives  of  soldiers  to  send  their  applica- 
tions for  head-stones  to  Capt.  Lewis. 

On  May  5  Messrs.  J.  Placek  and  Ant.  T.  Dole- 
zal  appeared  before  the  meeting  and  reported  that 
the  Bohemian  American  Sokol  Federation  was  in- 
vited to  the  Sokol  Mass  Meet  in  Prague  and  was  re- 
quested to  bring  a  loan  of  $50,000  in  the  form  of 
Hoover's  Food  Certificates  which  could  be  exchanged 
for  food  in  the  American  food  warehouses  in  Europe. 
It  was  resolved  to  lend  such  an  amount  to  this  loan 
which  would  be  covered  by  a  bond  guarantee  of  the 
Sokol  Federation. 

A  donation  of  $17.50  or  1,000  crowns  was  voted 
to  the  Slovak  Branch  of  the  Socialist  party  for  a  one 
million  crown  fund  to  fight  the  ultra-montane  move- 
ment. 

Two  donations  of  $50.00  each  were  voted  to  the 
Chicago  Relief  Committee  for  the  tornado  sufferers 
and  to  the  Opocensky  family,  one  of  the  tornado 
victims. 

On  June  2  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
the  loan  to  the  American  Sokol  Federation  of  $10,000 
was  guaranteed  by  $11,000  in  Liberty  bonds  and  a 
$10,000  note  for  six  months  at  41/2  per  cent  interest. 

Sincere  sympathy  was  extended  by  president 
Pecha  to  the  delegate,  John  Klaus,  on  account  of  the 
death  of  his  wife,  Clara,  a  rare  woman,  who  deserved 
extraordinary  credit  for  her  activities  in  our  societies 
and  in  the  national  life  in  general. 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  on  June  9,  it  was  de- 
cided after  a  lengthy  debate,  to  postpone  the  erection 
of  a  new  administration  building  on  account  of  the 
high  prices  of  material  (the  lowest  bid  was  for 
$58,322.00.)  On  the  other  hand  the  necessity  for  a 
new  boiler  building  with  a  new  150  HP  boiler  and  of 
new  green-houses  was  acknowledged  and  the  erection 
approved,  for  a  total  cost  of  $42,122.00. 

On  July  7  Dr.  J.  E.  S.  Vojan,  editor  of  "Vek 
Rozumu,"  and  V.  K.  Soukup,  secretary  of  the  Na- 
tional Executive  Committee  of  the  Bohemian  Free- 
thought  Federation  of  America,  appeared  before  the 
meeting  and  submitted  a  request  for  voting  a  larger 

105 


support  to  the  Freethought  Federation.  Upon  the 
recommendation  of  delegates  Kroc,  Nose'k,  Masek, 
Klaus  and  Frydl  a  donation  of  $1,000.00  was  voted. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  new  bonds 
for  $25,000.00  had  been  purchased. 

On  August  4  the  purchase  of  Liberty  bonds  for 
$10,000.00  was  reprted. 

On  September  27  the  annual  tour  of  inspection 
was  held.  The  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to 
adorn  the  place  where  the  urn  with  the  ashes  of  F.  B. 
Zdrubek  was  deposited  with  a  memorial  tablet.  The 
president  remembered  also  two  deceased  delegates, 
V.  Topinka  and  V.  Vopata,  in  his  speech. 

On  October  6  a  donation  of  $100.00  was  voted 
to  the  building  fund  of  the  Cicero  Freethought  School. 

On  December  1  the  delegates  honored  the  mem- 
ory of  the  deceased  delegate,  Fr.  Florian,  in  the  cus- 
tomary  way. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  recommended  the  erec- 
tion of  a  special  building  where  the  workingmen 
could  change  their  clothes  and  spend  the  noon  recess. 
According  to  a  plan  drafted  by  the  architect  Rusy, 
the  cost  was  to  be  about  $3,000.00.  It  was  resolved 
to  get  bids. 

The  following  New  Year's  donations  were  voted: 
$3,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought  schools; 
$1,000.00  to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asy- 
lum; $500.00  to  the  Bohemian  English  School  on  18th 
St.;  $500.00  to  the  John  Hus  Memorial  Home;  $100.00 
to  the  F.  B.  Zdrubek  School  and  $50.00  to  the  Matice 
Vyssiho  Vzdelani. 


1921 

On  January  5  a  donation  of  $500.00  was  voted, 
upon  recommendation  of  Fr.  Boucek,  to  the  Hoover 
Eelief  fund  for  suffering  children  in  Europe. 

The  salaries  of  officers  were  increased  as  follows: 
the  president  was  to  receive  $250.00;  the  vice-presi- 
dent, $50.00;  the  secretary,  $200.00;  the  treasurer, 
$500.00;  each  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
$250.00,  and  each  member  of  the  Auditing  Commit- 
tee, $16.00,  for  every  audit.     The  salary  of  the  super- 

106 


intendent  was  increased  to  $2,400.00  a  year  and  free 
quarters;  the  first  bookkeeper,  $150.00  a  month,  and 
free  quarters,  the  second  bookkeeper,  $150.00  a  month 
without  living  quarters. 

The  cash  balance  having  been  $17,097.72,  the 
Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  buy  bonds  for 
$12,000.00. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  February  2  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  Jos.  Ringl,  Vice-President; 
V.  H.  Filip,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos. 
Siman  (for  two  years)  and  Fr.  Boucek  (for  one  year), 
members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  Jos.  Kflz, 
John  Klaus  and  Vac.  Waska,  members  of  the  Audit- 
ing Committee.  Longin  Tuma  was  reappointed  super- 
intendent and  J.  Kozak,  first,  and  O.  Scheiner,  sec- 
ond bookkeeper. 

The  request  of  the  Gymnastic  Sokol  Society,  Roz- 
voj,  and  of  the  United  Societies  in  Irving  Park  that 
in  the  future  the  Memorial  Day  procession  be  formed 
in  front  of  the  F.  B.  Zdrubek  School  in  honor  of  the 
memory  of  this  great  Free  Thought  leader  and  co- 
founder  of  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery,  was 
granted. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  order 
the  Zdrubek  memorial  tablet  in  the  form  of  a  book 
in  order  that  it  be  in  harmony  with  Vicker*s  tablet. 

On  March  3  delegate  Jos.  Lang  reminded  the 
meeting  that  the  Svobodna  Obec  would  celebrate  its 
50th  anniversary  on  27th  to  29th  of  March.  The 
president  requested  the  delegates  to  attend,  and  a 
donation  of  $100.00  was  voted. 

On  April  6  a  donation  of  $500.00  was  voted  to 
the  building  fund  of  the  Bohemian  Freethought  School 
in  Cicero  and  $500.00  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought 
Schools  Association  in  Chicago. 

It  was  resolved  to  draft  detailed  rules  for  funer- 
als in  order  to  avoid  crowding  at  the  same  hour  and 
needless  errors,  due  to  lack  of  knowledge  on  the  part 
of  the  undertakers  as  to  where  the  graves  were  lo- 
cated. 

At  the  Memorial  Day  celebration  Circuit  Court 
Judge  A.  T.  Zeman  and  Otto  T.  Pergler,  president 
of  the  C.  S.  P.  S.  National  Supreme  Lodge,  were 
speakers. 

107 


On  July  6  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
the  Bohemian  American  Sokol  Federation  sent  a  check 
for  $10,000  to  pay  its  loan,  requesting  the  remission 
of  interest.     The  request  was  granted. 

On  August  3  a  letter  from  the  Svobodna  Obec 
was  read.  This  letter  asked  for  assistance  at  the 
celebration  of  the  unveiling  of  Zdrubek's  memorial 
tablet  on  September  11  and  for  free  use  of  the  large 
ceremony  hall.     The  request  was  granted  in  full. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  the  lowest 
bid  for  the  planned  erection  of  a  garage  and  a  build- 
ing for  workingmen  was  ?10,675.00.  Authorization 
was  given  to  sign  the  contracts. 

On  August  7  fifty-seven  delegates  took  part  in 
the  annual  tour  of  inspection.  The  graves  of  92  dele- 
gates buried  in  the  National  Cemetery  were  decorat- 
ed with  American  flags.  A  flower  column  with  Tyrs's 
bust  and  Sokol  slogans  in  floral  letterings,  the  work 
of  superintendent,  Longin  Tuma,  were  gratefully  ap- 
preciated by  the  Sokols  who  held  a  mass  meet  in  Chi- 
cago in  that  month.  After  the  inspection  the  62nd 
birthday  of  the  delegate  Jos.  A.  Smejkal,  who  at  that 
time  had  been  active  in  the  Association  for  37  years, 
was  remembered  by  the  president.  A  bouquet  of  62 
roses  was  given  to  this  oldest  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees. 

On  September  7  the  Slovak  Evangelical  Society 
sent  an  inquiry  as  to  whether  it  could  become  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Association.  The  secretary  was  instructed 
to  reply  that  only  societies  fully  adhering  to  Free 
Thought  could  be  members  of  the  Bohemial  National 
Cemetery  Association. 

The  memory  of  the  deceased  former  delegate, 
Jos.  Hora,  was  honored  in  the  customary  way. 

On  November  2  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported 
that  an  8  hour  work  day  had  been  introduced  in  the 
cemetery,  on  account  of  shorter  hours  of  daylight  and 
also  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  laying  off  several  em- 
ployees. 

On  December  7  the  following  New  Year's  dona- 
tions were  voted:  $3,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  Free- 
thought  Schools;  $1,000.00  to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home 
and  Orphan  Asylum;  $500.00  to  the  John  Hus  Mem- 

108 


orial  Home;  $500.00  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought 
Federation  of  America;  $100.00  to  the  Masaryk 
School  in  Cicero  and  the  same  amount  to  the  Zdrubelc 
School  in  Irving  Park;  $50.00  to  the  Matice  Vyssiho 
Vzdelani,  and  the  loan  of  $5,000.00  to  the  C.  S.  P.  S. 
Building  on  18th  St.  was  remitted  with  interest  for 
the  past  year. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  the  roll  of 
employees  (besides  clerks)  was  as  follows:  15  men  in 
the  gardening  division,  1  man  in  the  crematorium,  1 
policeman,  4  grave-diggers,  6  chauffeurs,  6  teams- 
ters, 3  firemen,  3  carpenters  and  14  men  for  general 
work  in  the  cemetery. 


1922 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  February  1  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  St.  Simecek,  Vice-President; 
V.  H.  Filip,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  J.  A. 
Smejkal  (for  two  years)  and  Fr.  Boucek  (for  one 
year),  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  Jos. 
Kfiz,  John  Klaus  and  Vac.  Waska,  members  of  the 
Auditing  Committee. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  buy 
bonds  for  $10,000.00. 

On  March  1  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
the  fund  for  permanent  decoration  of  the  graves  was, 
on  February  15,  1922,  $145,032.05.  The  total  crema- 
torium receipts  1914-1921  were  $38,511.79  or 
$5,501.70  a  year  as  an  average,  but  because  the  aver- 
age crematorium  expenses  including  interest  of  4 
per  cent  on  $107,730.00,  the  cost  of  building  the 
crematorium,  were  $6,348.00  a  year,  the  crematorium 
was  still  being  operated  with  a  deficit.  Therefore 
it  was  a  favorable  event  when  the  receipts  in  1921 
rose  to  $7,256.95. 

The  Association  owned  Liberty  bonds  for 
$50,000.00  Upon  motion  of  J.  A.  Smejkal  it  was  re- 
solved to  sell  them  with  a  profit  of  28c  on  every  one 
hundred  dollars. 

It  was  also  resolved  to  buy  a  tower  clock  for  the 
crematorium  with  dial-plates  on  three  sides  and  a 
500-pound  bell  for   $1,628.50. 

109 


On  April  5  a  donation  of  $50.00  was  voted  for 
Prof.  DeyFs  Institute  for  the  Blind  in  Prague  and 
sent  to  Mr.  Fr.  Zajicek,  who  collected  contributions 
for  that  institution. 

The  request  of  the  State  Committee  of  the  Bohe- 
mian Freethought  Federation  for  free  use  of  the 
large  ceremony  hall  of  the  crematorium  for  Sunday 
educational  lectures  during  the  summer  jwas  granted. 

Upon  motion  of  E.  Frydl  bonds  of  the  Czecho- 
slovak Republic  were  purchased  for  $10,000.00, 
whereby  the  Cemetery  Association  again  had  proved 
that  it  was  willing  to  take  part  in  every  patriotic 
action  for  the  welfare  of  the  old  country. 

On  April  13  the  Bohemian  Sharpshooters'  Society 
which  had  disbanded  asked  for  permission  to  trans- 
fer its  membership  to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  and 
Orphan  Asylum  Association.  The  Board  of  Trustees 
was  instructed  to  investigate  whether  the  statutes 
allowed  it. 

John  Pecha,  president,  reported  that  he  was  go- 
ing to  visit  the  old  country  and  that  the  vice-presi- 
dent, St.  Simecek,  was  to  substitute  for  him  during 
his  absence.  Mr.  Pecha  remarked  that  during  25 
years  of  his  service  in  holding  the  president's  office 
he  was  absent  from  only  three  meetings. 

Upon  motion  of  J.  Ringl  a  donation  of  $500.00 
was  voted  to  be  distributed  by  the  president  among 
worthy  institutions  in  Czechoslovakia. 

At  the  Memorial  Day  celebration  County  Judge 
F.  S.  Righeimer  and  editor  Alb.  J.  Havranek  were 
speakers. 

On  June  7  the  request  of  the  Czechoslovak 
Legionaries  for  the  placing  of  free  monuments  on  the 
graves  of  two  legionaries  who  had  no  survivors  here 
to  take  care  of  their  graves  was  granted. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  no  provi- 
sion for  allowing  transfers  of  membership  was  found 
in  the  statutes. 

Cash  on  hand  having  been  $39,258.16  on  May 
31,  it  was  resolved  to  purchase  bonds  of  the  Czecho- 
slovak Republic  for  $25,000.00. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  Sep- 
tember 17.     Fifty-four  delegates  were  present,  among 

110 


them  the  president,  John  Pecha,  who  had  just  re- 
turned from  Czechoslovakia.  He  remembered  98  for- 
mer deleg-ates  who  were  already  buried  in  the  Na- 
tional Cemetery  and  whose  graves  were  decorated 
with  American   flags. 

On  August  4  the  president's  report  about  his  dis- 
tribution of  the  $500.00  donation  was  accepted  with 
thanks. 

Delegate  Jos.  Kroc  called  attention  to  an  offense 
perpetrated  by  a  reverend  who  in  his  speech  in  the 
crematorium  declared  that  anybody  who  did  not  be- 
lieve in  God  was  a  scoundrel.  It  was  resolved  not 
to  permit  such  remarks  in  the  cemetery. 

On  December  6  the  following  New  Year's  dona- 
tions were  voted:  $3,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  Free- 
thought  Schools;  $500.00  to  the  John  Hus  Memorial 
Home;  $300.00  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought  Federa- 
tion of  America;  $100.00  to  the  F.  B.  Zdrubek  School 
in  Irving  Park;  $100.00  to  the  T.  G.  Masaryk  School 
in  Cicero;  $100.00  to  the  Bohemian  Benevolent  So- 
ciety; $50.00  to  the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani,  and 
$50.00  to  the  Invalid  Soldier  fund  of  the  Czecho- 
slovak Legionnaires. 

The  bid  of  the  Garden  City  Iron  Works  on  an 
airtight  brass  columbarium  for  $7,542.00  was  ap- 
proved. 


1923 

On  January  3  a  resolution  of  sympathy  to  the 
family  of  the  deceased  cemetery  superintendent, 
Longin  Tuma,  was  adopted. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  February  7  John  Pecha 
was  elected  President;  St.  Simecek,  Vice-President; 
V.  H.  Filip,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos. 
Siman  (for  two  years)  and  Fr.  Boucek  (for  one  year), 
members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees;  John  Klaus,  Vac. 
Waska  and  Jos.  Kfiz,  members  of  the  Auditing  Com- 
mittee. 

The  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
that  Charles  Bastyf  be  appointed  manager  of  the 
outdoor  work  and  Henry  Paryzek,  manager  of  the 
indoor   work   of  the   cemetery,    was   approved.      The 

111 


salary  of  the  former  was  fixed  at  $2,400.00,  that  of 
the  latter  at  $2,200.00  and  free  quarters. 

A  committee  of  five.  Vac.  F.  Cipra,  Mart.  Nosek, 
Rud.  Janda,  J.  J.  Jelinek  and  Jos.  Ringl,  was  elected 
to  revise  the  statutes  to  conform  to  the  present  de- 
mands. 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  on  March  28,  all  stat- 
ute amendments  were  adopted  as  well  as  rules  for 
the  new  cemetery  managers.  One  of  the  important 
amendments  was  that  only  a  Czechoslovak  fraternal 
benevolent  society  might  become  a  member  of  the 
Bohemian  National  Cemetery  Association,  after  pay- 
ment of  the  admission  fee  of  $500.00. 

On  April  4  the  wages  of  workingmen  were  in- 
creased and  the  salaries  of  the  booikkeepers,  J.  Ko- 
zak  and  O.  Scheiner,  fixed  at  $1,800.00  a  year  each. 

At  the  Memorial  Day  celebration  which  met  with 
remarkable  success  Assistant  State's  Attorney  Ed.  A. 
Jonas  and  Jos.  Placek,  member  of  the  State  legisla- 
ture and  prominent  Sokol  leader,  were  speakers. 

On  account  of  higher  prices  of  all  material  and 
increase  of  wages  in  the  iron  industry  an  additional 
amount  of  $2,000.00  was  approved  for  the  Garden 
City  Iron  Works,  which  brought  the  total  cost  of  the 
columbarium  to  $9,542.00. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  Au- 
gust 12.  Fifty-three  delegates  were  present.  The 
speeches  which  were  made  on  this  occasion  resound- 
ed with  glad  satisfaction  that  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery  was  now  the  most  justly  pride  of  the  Bohe- 
mian Americans,  not  only  in  Chicago,  but  in  the 
whole  United  States.  President  Pecha  recalled  the 
great  work  of  F.  B.  Zdrubek.  J  .A.  Smejkal  who  had 
become  a  member  of  the  Cemetery  Association  as  a 
youth  of  24  years  and  at  this  time  had  served  in  the 
Board  of  Trustees  for  38  years,  talked  of  the  days 
when  the  finances  of  the  cemetery  were  discourag- 
ingly  weak,  while  now  the  cemetery  owned  bonds  al- 
most for  one  million  dollars.  He  mentioned  the  long 
services  of  the  president,  Pecha,  and  of  the  treasurer, 
Jurka,  who  had  already  passed  his  twenty-fifth  year 
as  treasurer. 

112 


Two  inspections  of  other  cemeteries,  one  made  on 
July  27,  the  other  on  September  18,  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  Cemetery  Associations  of  the  South  Side 
and  North  Side  of  Chicago,  showed  that  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Cemetery  had  little  to  learn.  All  par- 
ticipants in  these  inspections — Smejkal,  Boucek,  Ko- 
zak,  Bastyf  and  Paryzek — found  that  no  Chicago 
cemetery  could  rival  the  Bohemian  cemetery  in  floral 
decorations  and  in  model  management. 

At  the  meeting  of  November  7  John  Pecha  and 
Jos.  Wolf  were  appointed  delegates  to  the  Bohemian 
Freethinker's  Convention. 

In  December  New  Year's  donations  were  voted 
as  follows:  $3,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought 
Schools;  $1,000.00  to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  and 
Orphan  Asylum;  $500.00  to  the  Music  fund  of  the 
Orphan  Asylum;  $2,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  English 
School  on  ItSh  St.;  $500.00  to  the  John  Hus  mem- 
orial Home;  $300.00  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought 
Federation;  $100.00  each  to  the  Zdrubek  School,  Ma- 
saryk  School  and  Bohemian  Benevolent  Society; 
$50.00  to  the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani. 


1924 

On  January  2  the  president  welcomed  the  new 
delegates  and  exhorted  them  to  work  zealously  for 
the  cemetery. 

This  meeting  was  the  annual  meeting.  John  Pe- 
cha was  elected  President;  St.  Simecek,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; V.  H.  Filip,  Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer; 
J.  A.  Smejkal  (for  three  years)  and  Fr.  Boucek  (for 
two  years),  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  Jos. 
Kfiz,  John  Klaus  and  Vac.  Waska,  members  of  the 
Auditing  Committee. 

Upon  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
the  following  executive  employees  were  appointed: 
J.  Kozak,  first  bookkeeper;  Otto  Scheiner,  second 
bookkeeper;  Jar.  Gregor,  assistant  bookkeeper;  K. 
Ba§tyf,  outdoor  work  manager,  and  Henry  Paryzek, 
manager  of  green-houses  and  floral  department. 

B.  J.  Wacek,  delegate  and  public  accountant,  re- 
ported that  from  January  1  to  December  31,   1923, 

113 


the  receipts  in  the  floral  department  were  $135,651.00 
and  disbursements,  $83,740.50,  net  profit,  $51,910.50. 

Mr.  Vales,  representing  the  Spanish  War  Vet- 
erans, reported  that  the  U.  S.  government  had  donated 
three  markers  for  graves  of  three  comrades  buried  in 
the  Bohemian  cemetery  and  asked  that  they  be  erect- 
ed free  of  charge.     The  request  v^as  granted. 

On  March  5  the  delegates  honored  the  memory 
of  two  deceased  delegates,  Jos.  Kovafik  and  J.  A. 
Smejkal,  by  rising  from  their  chairs. 

The  president  reminded  the  meeting  that  J.  A. 
Smej'kal  had  been  a  member  of  Trustees  for  38  years 
and  appointed  a  committee  of  three,  J.  J.  Jelinek,  Fr. 
Masek  and  Jos.  W.  Egermayer,  to  draft  resolutions 
of  sympathy  to  the  families  of  both  lamented  dele- 
gates. 

Jaroslav  Bartos  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  for  three  years. 

For  the  welfare  of  the  cemetery  the  president 
called  the  attention  of  the  meeting  to  the  fact  that 
all  Chicago  cemeteries  had  an  official  automobile  for 
use  on  business  occasions  which  now  became  more 
and  more  frequent.  On  his  recommendation  the  pur- 
chase of  a  seven  passenger  car  was  voted  (the  price 
of  the  Buick  car  purchased  was  $2,599.60). 

On  April  2  Bohemian  American  Camp  No.  30  of 
the  Spanish  War  Veterans  informed  the  Association 
of  its  decision  to  erect  a  monument  to  the  heroes  of 
that  war  and  asked  for  an  appropriate  place.  The 
request  was  granted  and  the  matter  referred  to  the 
Board  of  Trustees. 

A  statute  amendment  giving  to  the  vice-president 
the  right  to  vote  in  meetings  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees was  submitted  and  upon  motion  of  delegate  Illich, 
seconded  by  delegates  Fort  and  Kfiz,  was  adopted 
unanimously. 

On  May  7  the  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that 
bonds  had  been  purchased  for  $60,000.00  and  at  the 
next  meeting,  when  a  larger  cash  balance  was  re- 
ported, it  was  resolved  to  purchase  more  bonds  for 
$20,000.00. 

At  the  Memorial  Day  celebration  Judge  Fred- 
erick B.  R.  De  Young  and  City  Treasurer,  J.  A.  Cer- 
venka  were  speakers. 

114 


On  June  4  a  large  panorama  of  all  delegates, 
which  had  been  ordered  from  the  Pleschner  Photo- 
graphic studio,  was  submitted.  It  was  resolved  to 
hang  it  up  in  the  cemetery  office  and  to  distribute 
smaller  copies  among  the  delegates. 

On  July  2  the  vice-president,  Simecek,  who  pre- 
sided at  this  meeting  reported  that  president  Pecha 
was  seriously  ill  and  had  been  taken  to  an  Evanston 
hospital. 

A  letter  of  thanks  was  submitted  from  John  Ciz- 
kovsky  who  had  been  a  delegate  for  many  years  and 
to  whom  a  floral  remembrance  had  been  sent  on  the 
occasion  of  his  70th  birthday. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  postponed  to 
September  as  a  token  of  honor  to  president  Pecha 
when — as  it  was  hoped — he  would  leave  the  hospital 
and  could  be  present  at  the  inspection.  A  commit- 
tee of  five,  Zahrobsky,  Klaus,  Kfiz,  Budilovsky  and 
Ign.  Cerny,  was  appointed  upon  motion  of  the  dele- 
gate Zahrobsky  to  make  an  official  visit  to  the  hos- 
pital. 

The  meeting  of  August  6  was  called  to  order  by 
the  president,  John  Pecha,  who  had  recovered  from 
his  grave  illness. 

The  financial  statement  from  January  1  to  June 
30,  1924,  submitted  by  the  bookkeeper,  John  Koza'k, 
showed  an  increase  of  $111,743.19  in  the  assets  of 
the  cemetery  which  now  owned  bonds  for  more  than 
$1,000,000.00. 

Delegates  Siman,  Pecha  and  Boucek,  who  had 
visited  one  of  the  most  beautiful  cemeteries  in  the 
United  States,  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  reported  that  it 
excelled  in  natural  beauty.  Its  rolling  area  of  200 
acres  contained  about  50,000  graves,  but  they  were 
not  so  well  adorned  as  those  in  the  Bohemian  Na- 
tional Cemetery,  the  annual  receipts  of  the  Milwau- 
kee cemetery  for  flowers  being  only  about  $2,000.00 
a  year.  One  thing  impressed  the  delegates :  the  ideal- 
ly equipped  offices  and  administration  building. 

On  September  3  a  donation  of  $50.00  was  voted 
to  the  building  fund  of  the  Oak  Park  Sokol  Gymnas- 
tic Association. 

A  committee  of  three,  St.  Simecek,  Chas.  J.  Ko- 

115 


pecky  and  J.  J.  Jelinek,  was  appointed  by  the  pres- 
ident to  peruse  the  history  of  the  cemetery,  written 
by  editor  Petrzelka  and  to  submit  a  report. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  Sep- 
tember 21.  Fifty-nine  delegates  participated  as  well 
as  the  representatives  of  Bohemian  newspapers.  The 
veterans,  Fara,  Mach,  Tittel  and  fiezny,  were  shown 
where  a  location  for  the  monument  of  Spanish  War 
Veterans  had  been  reserved.  The  president  remind- 
ed the  delegates  of  the  urgent  necessity  to  purchase 
a  new  tract  of  land  which  would  allow  a  better  in- 
come than  the  4  per  cent  interest  yielded  by  bonds. 

On  November  5  a  donation  of  $50.00  was  voted 
to  the  building  fund  of  the  Berwyn  Sokol  Gymnastic 
Society. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  submitted  plans  of  the 
architect  Rusy  for  a  new  administration  building, 
green-houses  and  managers'  home.  The  estimate  was 
for  $32,000.00  to  $35,000.00.  By  37  votes  to  1  it  was 
resolved  to  erect  those  buildings  according  to  the 
submitted  sketches. 

On  November  9,  the  day  of  the  tenth  anniver- 
sary of  the  opening  of  the  crematorium,  a  celebration 
was  held  with  the  purpose  of  furthering  the  idea  of 
cremation.  Editors,  Psenka,  Petrzelka  and  Jelinek 
were  speakers. 

On  December  3  the  following  New  Year's  dona- 
tions were  voted:  $3,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  Free- 
thought  Schools;  $1,000.00  to  the  Old  Peoples'  Home 
and  Orphan  Asylum  and  $500.00  to  the  Music  fund 
of  the  Orphan  Asylum  inmates;  $500.00  to  the  John 
Hus  Memorial  Home;  $500.00  to  the  Bohemian  Free- 
thought  Federation;  $100.00  each  to  F.  B.  Zdrubek 
School,  Thomas  G.  Masaryk  School  and  Bohemian 
Benevolent  Society;  $1,000.00.  to  the  Agitation  com- 
mittee of  the  C.  S.  P.  S.  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of 
Illinois  for  its  camp  at  Algonquin,  111.,  and  $50.00  to 
the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani. 

A  special  meeting,  held  on  December  21,  was 
devoted  to  the  question  of  the  erection  of  a  building 
for  managers.  By  42  votes  against  2  it  was  resolved 
to  start  the  erection  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  was 

116 


instructed  to  do  so  at  the  least  expenses.      (The  low- 
est bid  was  for  $30,445.00.) 

It  was  resolved  to  buy  90  turkeys  and  distri- 
bute them  among  employes  as  Christmas  gifts. — Mr. 
Scheiner,  floral  department  bookkeeper,  resigned  and 
Fr.  Boucek,  Jr.,  was  appointed  in  his  stead. 


1925 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  January  7  the  free 
cremation  of  the  deceased  Bohemian  newspaperman 
Stradal  was  approved.  New  delegates  were  wel- 
comed by  the  president.  A  donation  of  $10.00  was 
Toted  to  the  Slovak  Workingmen's  School  at  Irving 
Park. 

The  salaries  of  officers  were  increased  as  fol- 
lows: the  president  was  to  receive  $400.00;  each 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  $400.00;  the  vice- 
president,  $100.00;  the  secretary,  $400.00;  the  treas- 
urer, $600.00,  and  each  of  the  Auditing  Committee 
members,    $40.00    a   year. 

John  Pecha  was  then  unanimously  elected  Pres- 
ident; St.  Simecek,  Vice-President;  V.  H.  Filip,  Sec- 
retary; Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer;  Jos.  Siman  (for  three 
years)  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  John 
Klaus,  Vac.  Waska  and  Jos.  Ringl,  members  of  the 
Auditing  Committee. 

A  special  meeting  on  January  21  was  devoted  to 
the  question  of  the  erection  of  a  new  administration 
iDuilding  and  green-houses.  The  estimates  were  from 
$100,000  to  $150,000.  The  vice-president,  Simecek, 
explained  that  the  green-houses  were  about  to  fall 
down  and  the  administration  building  was  insufficient 
for  present  day  demands.  After  a  lengthy  debate  the 
recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  was  ap- 
proved and  they  were  instructed  to  erect  all  these 
l)uildings. 

On  February  4  the  delegates  honored  the  mem- 
ory of  the  deceased  delegate,  Ant.  Kubes,  by  rising 
from  their  chairs  and  a  committee  of  three,  Jos.  Lang, 
F.  Knizek  and  Fr.  Zahrobsky,  was  appointed  to  draft 
a  resolution  of  sympathy  to  be  sent  to  the  family. 

117 


The  Bohemian  American  Cremation  Society  sent 
its  delegates,  F.  Strunc,  V.  Soukenik  and  V.  Karnik, 
to  this  meeting  to  ask  for  financial  support  for  a 
lecture  campaign  in  favor  of  cremation.  The  president 
explained  to  them  that  the  Cemetery  Association  had 
published  a  pamphlet  at  the  expense  of  $500.00  and 
intended  to  publish  colored  postal  cards  of  the  crema- 
torium in  order  to  arouse  the  interest  of  the  general 
public.  In  the  following  debate  J.  Kfiz  put  stress  on 
the  necessity  of  energetic  campaigning  in  ladies'  so- 
cieties which  were  still  very  much  prejudiced  against 
cremation;  finally  the  whole  mater  was  referred  to 
the  Board  of  Trustees  which  was  instructed  to  pre- 
pare a  plan  for  efficient  agitation  in  co-operation  with 
the  Cremation  Society. 

On  March  4  the  recommendation  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  that  the  salaries  of  the  cemetery  man- 
agers, Mssrs.  Bastyf  and  Paryzek,  be  increased  to 
$2,600.00   a  year  was  approved. 

On  April  1  the  Board  of  Trustees  was  directed 
to  pay  the  bill  for  $29,261.72  for  the  pavement  of 
Crawford  Avenue  along  the  cemetery  property. 

At  the  Memorial  Day  celebration  the  Attorney 
General  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  Oscar  C.  Carlstrom, 
and  Mr.  Charles  Pergler,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  were 
speakers. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  May  23  the  lowest  bids 
for  the  administration  building  and  green-houses  were 
submitted.  The  total  was  $137,610.00,  but  the  pres- 
ident mentioned  that  with  various  additional  items 
the  total  could  be  expected  to  near  $150,000.00.  Fin- 
ally the  Board  of  Trustees  was  instructed  to  continue 
with  letting  of  contracts. 

On  August  5  the  president  reported  that  Mr.  Stef- 
fek,  who  had  been  employed  in  the  cemetery  for  36 
years,  had  died  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  was  in- 
structed to  see  what  could  be  done  for  the  family  of 
the  deceased. 

The  bookkeeper,  Mr.  Kozak,  reported  that  the 
increase  of  the  cemetery  assets  in  the  first  six  months 
of  this  year  was  $112,243.43. 

Upon  motion  of  the  delegate  Peter  Jelinek  the 
busts  of  John  Hus  and  John  Zizka  were  donated  to 

118 


the  Hus  Memorial  Home,  with  provision  that  they 
would  be  lent  to  the  cemetery  in  case  of  need. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  Sep- 
tember 27.  Fifty  six  delegates  were  present.  Upon 
motion  of  the  delegate  Ruzicka,  seconded  by  dele- 
gate Kofron,  is  was  resolved  to  put  a  bronze  tablet 
with  names  of  all  delegates  and  officers  on  the  new 
administration  building.  Upon  motion  of  delegate 
Lang  it  was  further  resolved  that  a  floral  gift  in  the 
form  of  50  roses  be  sent  to  the  daily  **Svornost" 
which  celebrated  its  fiftieth  anniversary  at  that  time 
and  the  officers  be  present  at  the  celebration  in  the 
offices  of  the   daily  "Svrnost". 

On  December  2  the  following  New  Years*  dona- 
tions were  voted:  $3,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  Free- 
thought  Schools;  §1,000.00  each  to  Old  Peoples'  Home 
and  Orphan  Asylum  and  to  the  John  Hus  Memorial 
Home  and  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought  Federation; 
$100.00  each  to  the  Zdrubek  School,  Masaryk  School 
and  Bohemian  Benevolent  Society;  $50.00  each  to  the 
Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani  and  Palacky  School;  $25.00 
each  to  the  Slovak  Irving  Park  School  and  to  the 
Besldka,  and  $15.00  to  the  Hanson  Park  School. 

Upon  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
it  was  resolved  that  all  applicants  for  work  in  the 
cemetery  be  examined  by  Dr.  Mueller. 


1926 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  January  6  it  was  re- 
solved that  the  salary  of  the  vice-president  be  in- 
creased to  $200.00  a  year. 

John  Pecha  was  reelected  President;  St.  Sime- 
cek,  Vice-President;  Victor  H.  Filip,  Secretary;  Jos. 
Jurka,  Treasurer;  Fr.  Boucek,  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  for  three  years;  John  Klaus,  Jos.  Kfiz 
and  Vac.  Waska,  members  of  the  Auditing  Committee. 

A  donation  of  $1,000.00  was  voted  to  the  build- 
ing fund  of  Sokol  Slavs'ky  in  Cicero. 

The  bookkeeper,  J.  Kozak,  reported  that  the  in- 
crease of  the  cemetery  assets  in  the  last  six  months 
of  1925  was  $21,928.00,  the  total  of  assets  being 
$1,688,042.00. 

119 


On  April  7  a  donation  of  $100.00  was  voted  ta 
the  Jubilee  Bazaar  of  the  daily  ''Spravedlnost". 

The  delegates,  Zrust  and  Lang,  were  appointed 
to  represent  the  Association  in  the  Bohemian  Free~ 
thinkers'  Convention. 

The  request  of  the  American  Camp  No.  30  of 
the  Spanish  War  Veterans  for  the  free  erection  of  a 
concrete  foundation  for  the  Spanish  War  Veterans 
Monument  was  granted. 

On  May  5  Mrs.  Lorenz  and  Mrs.  Brasnicka  ap- 
peared before  the  meeting  and  explained  the  neces-^ 
sity  of  a  building  for  Bohemian  societies,  Sokol  Asso- 
ciation and  Bohemian  school,  on  the  Northwest  Side. 
Such  a  building  was  planned  on  Cicero  Avenue,  be- 
tween North  and  Wabansia  Avenues,  for  $51,600.00. 
A  donation  of  $100.00  was  voted  to  the  building  fund. 

Upon  report  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  that  the 
stair-case  in  front  of  the  Crematorium  was  liable  to 
break  down,  it  was  resolved  after  a  lengthy  debate 
that  the  board  consult  with  architect  Rusy  and  erect 
a  solid  stair-case,  either  of  stone  or  of  concrete. 

The  official  dedication  of  the  new  administra- 
tion building,  green-houses  and  Palm  House  to  the 
Bohemian  public  was  held  on  May  22.  It  was  gen- 
erally acknowledged  that  the  administration  building^ 
was  the  most  beautiful  in  the  United  States,  and  the 
Palm  House  with  its  tropical  plants  and  goldfish  im- 
pressed the  delegates  and  guests  greatly.  A  collec- 
tion for  the  Old  Peoples'  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum 
yielded  $155.00. 

On  June  2  the  delegates  honored  the  memory 
of  the  deceased  delegate,  Vac.  Smid,  by  rising  from 
their  chairs. 

On  July  7  a  donation  of  $100.00  was  voted  for 
the  Woodrow  Wilson  Monument  in  Prague,  Czecho- 
slovakia. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  the  cost  of 
the  new  crematorium  stair-case  would  be  $21,975.00. 

It  was  resolved  that  the  officers  and  the  Mem- 
orial committee  were  to  form  the  committee  for  the 
celebration  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Cemetery  in   1927. 

120 


On  August  4  the  delegates  honored  the  memory 
of  the  deceased  delegate,  Ign.  Cerny,  and  a  resolution 
of  sympathy  was  sent  to  the  family.  The  president 
reported  also  the  death  of  Mr.  Balcar,  who  had  been 
^n  employee  of  the  cemetery  for  many  years. 

A  donation  of  $500.00  for  the  Spanish  War  Vet- 
erans' Monument  Committee  was  voted,  this  amount 
being  wanting  should  the  celebration  of  the  unveil- 
ing of  the  monument  be  held  on  September  26. 

Upon  report  that  the  upper  stairs  to  the  crema- 
torium were  also  to  be  replaced  by  new  ones,  the 
necessary  additional  amount  of  $487.00  was  approved. 

The  fiftieth  anniversary  committee  submitted  a 
report  that  the  celebration  be  held  toward  the  end 
of  June  1927,  consisting  of  a  great  popular  celebra- 
tion the  first  day  and  a  banquet  the  second  day  and 
that  a  ^'Mother''  Monument  be  erected  in  the  ceme- 
tery as  a  permanent  memento  of  this  jubilee.  This 
statue  of  "Mother"  was  to  remind  us  of  our  mothers 
and  of  our  debt  to  them  which  could  only  be  repaid 
in  the  true  gold  of  daily  affection  and  of  which  Mr. 
Pazdral,  the  speaker  at  the  Memorial  Day  celebra- 
tion of  that  year,  spoke  in  such  heartfelt  terms.  The 
committee  asked  for  $50,000.00  to  be  used  for  the 
celebration,  for  the  publication  of  a  Bohemian  and 
an  English  Memorial  book  and  for  the  erection  of  the 
statue  which  was  to  cost  about  $10,000.00.  After  a 
lengthy  debate  the  recommendation  was  adopted  by 
47  votes  against  2. 

The  Auditing  Committee  reported  an  increase  in 
assets  during  the  first  six  months  of  the  year  of 
^88,565.46,  the  total  assets  being  $1,776,607.92. 

The  annual  tour  of  inspection  was  held  on  Au- 
gust 29.  Sixty-one  delegates  and  all  executive  officers 
were  present.  Stops  of  piety  were  made  at  all  graves 
of  prominent  men  and  women  buried  in  the  ceme- 
tery. The  new  stair-case  in  front  of  the  crematorium 
met  with   general   approval. 

On  September  1  a  donation  of  $300.00  was  voted 
to  the  building  fund  of  Sokol  Havlicek-Tyrs  Gym- 
nastic Society. 

The  unveiling  of  the  Spanish  War  Veterans* 
Monument  was  held  on  September  26.     The  massive 

121 


pedestal,  a  one-piece  block  brought  with  great  diffi- 
culties from  Wausau,  Wis.,  was  donated  by  Mr. 
Albrecht,  Jr.  The  monument  itself  was  created  by 
Theo.  A.  R.  Kitson,  New  York.  Mr.  Fr.  Stejskal,  the 
last  living  Bohemian  veteran  of  the  Civil  War,  march- 
ed at  the  head  of  the  procession  which  started  from 
the  Vojta  Naprstek  School  and  after  a  ride  on  Craw- 
ford Avenue  surface  cars  was  formed  again  in  front 
of  the  Old  Peoples'  Home.  The  celebration  was  open- 
ed by  Alb.  A.  Fara,  commander  of  the  Camp  No.  30, 
who  in  his  speech  remembered  44  comrades  buried 
in  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery.  His  daughter, 
Miss  Evelyn  Fara,  unveiled  the  monument.  Mr.  J.  A. 
Cervenka  was  the  Bohemian  speaker  of  the  day, 
O.  E.  Carlstrom,  president  of  the  United  States  War 
Veterans'  organization,  delivered  an  English  speech, 
and  after  a  dedication  speech  by  the  veteran,  K.  V. 
Janovsky,  and  acceptance  of  the  monument  by  the 
president  of  the  Cemetery,  John  Pecha,  the  celebra- 
tion closed  by  "taps"  blown  by  L.  Hodik  of  New  Lis- 
bon, Wis. 

On  November  3  it  was  resolved  that  the  picture 
of  the  veteran,  Fr.  Stejskal,  be  inserted  in  the  Mem- 
orial book  which  was  in  preparation  for  the  semi- 
centenary  celebration,  because  Mr.  Stejskal  had  been 
the  marshall  of  the  Memorial  Day  processions  for 
many  past  years. 

Mr.  Albin  Polasek,  head  of  the  sculpture  depart- 
ment of  the  Chicago  Art  Institute,  appeared  at  this 
meeting  and  submitted  a  miniature  model  of  the 
"Mother"  Monument.  The  bronze  group  was  to  be 
eight  feet  high.  Its  idea  is  as  follows:  The  mother, 
holding  a  baby  in  her  arms,  bids  farewell  to  her  young 
son  who  is  about  to  set  out  the  road  of  life.  The 
torch  in  his  hand  represents  the  education  and  good 
advices  which  he  has  received  from  his  mother  and 
his  determination  to  spread  the  enlightenment  in  the 
world.  The  monument  was  to  be  encircled  by  a  hedge 
and  in  front  of  it  a  water  basin  with  flowers  was  to 
be  made.  Mr.  Polasek's  explanatory  words  met  with 
sincere  approval.  President  Pecha  reminded  the 
delegates  of  a  recent  remark  of  Arthur  Brisbane  that 
among  the  mass  of  monuments  throughout  the  United 

122 


states  there  was  not  one  honoring  Mother.  Those 
words  were  written  some  time  after  the  decision  of 
the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  to  erect  such  a 
monument,  and  so  this  cemetery  would  be  the  first  in 
America  to  realize  this  beautiful  idea.  The  motion 
of  the  delegate  Cipra  that  the  artist  go  ahead  with 
his  work  was  adopted  by  all  votes  except  one. 

On  December  1  the  following  New  Year's  dona- 
tions were  voted  to  the  total  amount  of  $8,100.00: 
$3,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  Freethought  Schools; 
$2,000.00  to  the  Bohemian  Old  Peoples'  Home  and 
Orphan  Asylum;  $1,000.00  to  the  Algonquin  Camp 
of  the  C.  S.  P.  S.  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois;  $500.00 
each  to  the  Music  fund  of  the  Orphan  Asylum,  to  the 
John  Hus  Memorial  Home  and  to  the  Bohemian  Free- 
thought  Federation;  $100.00  each  to  the  Zdrubek 
School,  to  the  Masaryk  School,  to  the  Bohemian  Bene- 
volent Society,  to  the  United  societies  of  the  North- 
west Side  and  to  the  Jan  Neruda  School;  $50.00  to 
the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelanl;  $25.00  each  to  the  Slo- 
vak School  at  Irving  Park  and  to  the  Besidka.  $20.00 
was  donated  to  the  Bohemian  American  Cremation 
Society  to  cover  the  expense  of  the  cremation  of  four 
deceased  members. 

The  customary  New  Years'  poultry  gifts  to  the 
employees  were  approved  and  upon  motion  of  the 
delegate  Svacha  it  was  resolved  to  send  similar  gifts 
also  to  the  representatives  of  the  daily  newspapers 
who  attended  the  meetings  of  the  Association  and 
wrote  reports. 

1927— THE  SEMI-CENTENARY  JUBILEE  YEAR 

The  annual  meeting  of  January  5  was  very  im- 
pressive. 

John  Pecha  was  elected  President  unanimously 
and  vice-president  Simecek,  in  the  name  of  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Cemetery  Association,  congratulated 
him  upon  his  thirtieth  year  of  service  in  this  body 
and  upon  his  seventieth  birthday  which  he  would 
reach  in  this  year. 

St.  Simecek  was  elected  Vice-President;  Victor 
H.    Filip,    Secretary,    and    Jos.    Jurka,    Treasurer — all 

123 


unanimously.  Jaroslav  Bartos  was  elected  a  mem-^ 
ber  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  three  years,  while 
John  Klaus,  Jos.  Kfiz  and  Vac.  Waska  were  elected 
members  of  the  Auditing  Committee. 

Upon  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
the  following  executive  employees  were  appointed: 
Chas.  Bastyf,  outdoor  superintendent;  Henry  Pary- 
zek,  indoor  superintendent;  John  Kozak,  first  book- 
keeper; Jaroslav  Gregor,  second  bookkeeper;  J^ 
Hroch,  assistant  bookkeeper. 

Upon  motion  of  delegate  Budilovsky  a  donation 
of  $25.00  was  voted  to  the  Slovak  Benevolent  Society^ 

On  February  2  delegate  J.  L.  Bfezina  renewed 
his  motion  that  the  old  age  insurance  for  employees 
be  introduced  as  a  part  of  the  Golden  Jubilee  cele- 
bration. After  a  lengthy  debate  it  was  stated  that 
the  Board  of  Trustees  was  working  up  the  plan  of 
this  insurance  which  was  a  very  complicated  matter 
and  would  submit  a  definite  proposition  as  soon  as  it 
would  have  completed  its  deliberations. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  reported  that  the  order 
for  10,000  Memorial  books  was  given  to  R.  Mejdrich 
&  Co.  for  $5,550.00.  The  book  of  320  pages  was  to 
contain  about  64  illustrations  and  be  attractively 
bound. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  also  recommended  that 
an  English  version  of  the  Memorial  book  be  published, 
in  a  succint  form,  which  could  be  given  as  a  souvenir 
to  the  guests  who  frequently  were  coming  to  see  the 
cemetery  and  to  the  English  speakers  at  the  Memorial 
Day  celebrations.  It  was  resolved  to  publish  2,500 
copies  of  this  English  Memorial  book  which  was  ta 
contain  about  120  pages  exclusive  of  the  illustra- 
tions. Dr.  Jar.  E.  S.  Vojan  was  selected  to  write  this 
English  version. 

On  March  2  the  Board  of  Trustees  recommended 
Congressman  Henry  T.  Rathbone  and  Dr.  Jaroslav 
Novak,  Czechoslovak  consul  general  in  New  York, 
as  speakers  for  the  Memorial  Dey  celebration.  The 
recommendation  was  adopted  after  a  lengthy  debate. 

The  financial  statement  for  the  last  six  months 
of  1926  showed  an  increase  in  assets  of  only  $26,837, 
although  the  receipts  were  considerable   (for  instance 

124 


the  interest  from  bonds  alone  was  $24,050.)  Dele- 
gate Waska,  member  of  the  Auditing  Committee,  ex- 
plained the  small  increase  by  the  fact  that  new  build- 
ings, completed  last  year,  had  required  considerable 
sums,  for  instance  one  of  these  single  items  was 
more  than  $31,000.  President  Pecha  informed  the 
delegates  that  delegate  Wacek,  a  public  accountant, 
had  promised  to  draft  a  plan  of  bookkeeping  which 
would  show  clearly  which  branches  of  the  cemetery 
business  were  profitable  and  which  perhaps  were 
unprofitable. 

With  this  meeting  the  fifty  year  period  of  exis- 
tence of  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion was  completed,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the 
foundations  for  the  erection  of  the  cemetery  were 
laid  at  the  meeting  of  March  12,  1877.  The  first 
fifty  years  were  reached  in  honor — vivant  sequentes! 


125 


epilck; 

An  English  proverb  says:  ''A  good  beginning 
is  half  the  battle."  The  words  are  poor  if  we  try  to 
find  a  sufficiently  eloquent  expression  for  our  grati- 
tude to  those  pioneers  who  had  made  such  a  good 
beginning  at  the  end  of  the  seventies  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, whereby  the  battle  for  the  present  magnificent 
Bohemian  National  Cemetery  was  half-won.  May 
the  first  pages  of  this  book  be  a  monument  to  these 
valiant  men  who  proved  once  more  that  Cicero  was 
right  when  he  said  two  thousand  years  ago:  **It  is 
the  nature  of  a  brave  and  resolute  mind  not  to  be  dis- 
quieted in  difficult  matters — Fortis  et  constantis  ani- 
mi  est  non  perturbari  in  rebus  asperis.'*  Immense 
seemed  to  be  the  difficulties  which  had  to  be  over- 
come in  the  first  decades  of  the  existence  of  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Cemetery,  but  all  those  obstacles  were 
only  incentives  to  greater  courage  and  determination. 

The  present  figures  speak  clearly.  How  modest 
were  the  figures  of  the  first  five  months!  In  the 
period  from  August  1  to  December  31,  1877,  the  re- 
ceipts, including  the  loans  from  several  societies,  were 
$4,685.36,  the  disbursements,  $3,228.50.  When  the 
first  quarter  of  a  century  was  reached,  the  assets  of 
the  cemetery  were  $232,748.17  (bonds,  $69,000.00; 
inventory,  $154,491.00,  and  various  accounts  receiv- 
able, $5,008.50). 


127 


The  last  semi-annual  financial  statement,  from 
July  1  to  December  31,  1926,  shows  the  following 
assets : 

Cash   in  treasury $  9,927.16 

Bonds  of  the  Association 555,244.91 

Bonds  of  the  Reserve  Fund 232,423.71 

Bonds  of  the  Permanent  Decoration  Fund  302,831.38 

Inventory 695,514.27 

Accounts  receivable  for  lots 7,129.35 

Accounts  receivable  for  Columbarium..  313.00 
Accounts   receivable    for   grave    decora- 
tion   62.00 


Total  assets $1,803,445.78 

During  the  fifty  years  of  existence  of  the  Bohe- 
mian National  Cemetery,  from  August  1,  1877,  to 
December  31,   1926: 

7,921  lots  were  sold. 

50,334  bodies  were  buried  (860  interments  were 
free  of  charge). 

1,161  bodies  were  cremated. 

The  area  of  the  cemetery  is  130  acres,  of  which 
49  acres  are  lots  (37.7  per  cent),  19.5  acres  are  roads 
(15  percent),  18  acres  are  rows  (14.3  per  cent),  9 
acres  are  covered  with  buildings  or  otherwise  used 
by  the  cemetery  (7  per  cent)  and  34  acres  remain 
undivided   (26  per  cent). 

There  are  8,528  lots  in  the  cemetery — 7,921  are 
sold  and  only  607  remain  for  sale. 

During  these  fifty  years  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery  Association  donated  $121,568.26  to  the  Bo- 
hemian Freethought  Schools  and  other  educational 
and  benevolent  purposes  and  therefore  deserves  to  be 
called  the  greatest  Bohemian  American  Maecenas! 
Of  these  donations  $65,610.90  were  to  the  Bohemian 
Freethought  Schools  in  Chicago  and  elsewhere  and 
to  the  Matice  Vyssiho  Vzdelani  (Association  for 
Higher  Education),  and  $18,041.90  to  the  Bohemian 
Old  Peoples*  Home  and  Orphan  Asylum  in  Chicago. 

128 


s 


^U^m^t 


ipni.  J 


a 


"The    Resignation" 

By    Mario    Korbel 


In  these  fifty  years  the  Bohemian  National  Ceme^ 
tery  Asspciation  had  eight  presidents: 


M.  Karasek, 
Jos.   Matousek, 
Frank   Tesaf, 
Jos.  Hladovec, 


Jos.  Hora, 
Vac.   Matas, 
Frank  Mencl, 
John  Pecha. 


Thirteen  vice-presidents 


John  Benes, 
Vac.  Matas, 
Vac.  Topinka, 
Frank    Mencl, 


C.  J.  Kopecky, 
F.  Kaspar, 
John  Kfiz, 
Ant.  Chmelik, 
Eugene  Frydl, 


Stan.   Halik, 
John  Bouse, 
Jos.  Ringl, 
Stan.  Sime^ek. 


Twelve  secretaries: 


Frank   Fencl, 
Frank   Pech^ 
E.  A.  Haase, 
Frank  Ring, 


Jar.   Lenoch, 
Jos.    Becvar, 
Jos.  Vaska, 
Jos.   Filip, 


Frank  MaSek, 
Stan.    Halik, 
Theoph.  Wacek, 
Victor  H.  Filip. 


Eleven   treasurers 


Jos.  Dostal, 
V6c.  Slap^k, 
Adalb.  Silhdnek, 
Vdc.   Ksandr, 


Ant.   Kouba, 
Jos.  Ba§e, 
Vdc.  Topinka, 
Jos.  Kostner, 


Vdc.  Vi§a, 
Jos.   Babka, 
Jos.  Jurka. 


Forty-three  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 


Jos.   MatouSek, 
Jos.  Novdk, 
Steph.  Sramek, 
A.  Bedlan, 
Vac.  Sejk, 
V.    Stehlik, 
F.  Mencl, 
Vdc.  Tejcek, 
Fr.   Rothbauer, 
Fr.   Kvapil, 
John   Kotek, 


V.  Tesaf, 
J.   Jakubka, 
Fr.  Fiser, 
Thom.  Kamis, 
J.  Vodicka, 
Jos.  Cinkl, 
Fr.  Hess, 
Jos.  Dostal, 
E.  A.  Haase, 
V.  Topinka, 
J.  A.  Smejkal, 


Jos.  Kostner, 
Jos.  Hora, 
Vac.  Nekola, 
Jos.  Nikodem, 
Jos.  Jurka, 
Jos.  Sindelaf, 
Fr.   Fucik, 
V.  Matas, 
M.  Wolf, 
Fr.  Vitla^il, 
R.  Pitte, 


129 


C.    J.    Kopecky,     Fr.  Boucek,  M.  Kralovec, 

V.  Kolacek,  John   Pecha,  Eugene  Frydl, 

M.  Sikyta,  Jos.  Siman,  Jaroslav  Bartos. 

Thorn.    David, 

The  Association  has  37  members.  These  socie- 
ties are  represented  by  74  delegates. 

While  it  is  customary  in  many  societies  that 
nobody  wants  to  be  appointed  a  delegate  to  other 
societies,  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion soon  became  a  rare  exception.  Anyone  felt  hon- 
ored if  he  was  appointed  a  delegate  to  the  Cemetery 
Association,  and  that  is  the  explanation  for  the  fact 
that  the  delegates  change  so  rarely  today.  Usually 
the  delegate  retains  his  office  till  his  death  or  his 
own  resignation  for  very  urgent  reasons.  At  the  an- 
nual meetings  scarcely  three  or  four  really  new  dele- 
gates are  announced. 

The  meetings  are  a  model  to  all  other  Bohemian 
societies.  Harmonious  co-operation,  friendly  discus- 
sions, moderation  even  in  hot  debates  and  wisdom 
of  opinions  prevail  in  them.  Only  these  excellent 
qualities  shown  in  all  deliberations  made  it  possible 
that  the  executive  officers  remained  in  their  places 
for  many  years  in  succession.  For  instance,  the  Asso- 
ciation had  only  eight  presidents  in  fifty  years,  an 
extraordinarily  rare  fact  in  the  annals  of  fraternal 
societies. 

The  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  cemeteries  in  the  United  States,  a  real 
Garden  of  the  Dead.  It  excels  in  floral  decorations, 
as  well  as  in  general  pleasing  arrangement,  its  ad- 
ministration building,  green-houses  and  Palm  house 
are  splendid,  and  by  and  by — as  Polasek^s  ^'Mother*' 
foreshadows — it  will  also  become  a  treasury  of  art 
gems. 

To  every  American  fellow-citizen  of  other  racial 
descent  the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  is  a  surpris- 
ing evidence  of  the  high  cultural  level  of  the  Bohe- 
mian immigrants. 

To  our  sons  and  daughters  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery  is  a  proud  legacy! 


130 


CONTENTS 


Page 

Preface 3 

Introductory 5 

1877 ? 7 

1878 18 

1879 22 

1880 25 

1881 28 

1882 31 

1883 33 

1884 34 

1885 36 

1886 39 

1887 41 

1888 43 

1889 45 

1890 47 

1891 48 

1892 50 

1893 53 

1894 55 

1895 56 

1896 58 


131 


I'age 

1897 60 

1898 '. 62 

1899 63 

1900 65 

1901 66 

1902 — The  Year  of  the  Twenty-Fifth  Anni- 
versary   , .  .  . .  68 

1903 71 

1904 72 

1905 74 

1906 76 

1907 77 

1908 78 

1909 80 

1910 81 

1911 82 

1912 84 

1913 86 

1914 90 

1915 93 

1916 95 

1917 97 

1918 99 

1919 102 

1920 104 

1921 106 

1922 109 

1923 Ill 

1924 113 

1925 117 

1926 119 

1927 — The  Semi-Centenary  Jubilee  Year 123 

Epilog 127 


132 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


"The  Mother"  by  Albin  Polasek.  Erect- 
ed in  front  of  the  Crematorium  in 
the  Jubilee  Year  of  1927. 

John  Pecha,  the  present  President  of 
the  Bohemian  National  Cemetery  As- 
sociation, holding  this  office  already 
for    30    years . 

Officers  of  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery  Association:  Stan.  Sime- 
dek,  Vice-President;  Victor  H.  Filip, 
Secretary;  Jos.  Jurka,  Treasurer. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Bohemian 
National  Cemetery  Association:  Jar. 
Bartos,   Jos.   Siman,   Fr.    Bou6ek. 

Superintendents  of  the  Bohemian  Na- 
tional Cemetery:  Chas.  BaSt;^,  Henry 
Par^zek . 

Bookkeepers  of  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery:  John  Kozak,  Jar.  Gregor, 
Jos.  Hroch. 

Editorial  Committee  of  the  "History  of 
the  Boh.  Nat.  Cemetery":  Chas.  Ko- 
pecky,  Stan.  §ime6ek,  J.  J.  Jelinek. 

Dr.  Jar.  E.  S.  Vojan,author  of  the  Eng- 
lish version  of  the  "History  of  the 
Boh.    Nat.    Cemetery". 

F.  B.  Zdrubek,  co-founder  of  the  Boh. 
Nat.  Cemetery  and  author  of  its  first 
"History." 

Monument  of  Ladimir  Klacel,  philos- 
opher   and    Free    Thought    pioneer. 

Civil    War   Veterans'    Monument. 

The  start  of  the  Memorial  Day  pro- 
cession .- 


133 


American  Veterans  in  the  Memorial 
Day   procession . 

Czechoslovak  Legionnaires  in  the  Mem- 
orial  Day   procession. 

President  Pecha  opens  the  Memorial 
Day  Celebration  of  the  Jubilee  year 

Spanish    War    Veterans'    Monument. 

Prospective  view  of  the  Crematorium 
and  the  "Mother"  Monument.  (From 
a  picture  by  the  architect  Rusy.) . 

The  large  Ceremony  Hall  in  the  Crema- 
torium . 

The  small  Ceremony  Hall  in  the  Crema- 
torium . 

A  section  of  the  Columbarium  with 
urns  in  the   Crematorium. 

The  new  Administration  Building  in  the 
Boh.  Nat.  Cemetery. 

The  new  Gate  in  the  Bohemian  Na- 
tional   Cemetery. 

The  permanent  floral  decoration  in  the 
Boh.    Nat.    Cemetery . 

Greenhouses  in  the  Bohemian  National 
Cemetery  . 

Greenhouses  and  the  Old  Fountain  from 
the     North . 

Living  Quarters  of  the  executive  em- 
ployees . 

The  Interior  of  the  Palm  House. 

The  floral  decoration  in  front  of  the 
Administration    Building., 

The  Interior  of  the  Palm  House. 

The  Salesrooms  of  the  Floral  Depart- 
ment . 

The  Garage. 

**The   Resignation"   by   Mario   Korbel. 


134 


■mm:':. 


M' 


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